Jerome can be a difference maker if he’s on the floor.
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t sure what they have in Ty Jerome. He didn’t quite make it out of the gates last year, suffering a season-ending injury just 15 minutes into his Cavalier career. This season, Cleveland hopes to find out what Jerome can provide finally.
Let’s start by quickly reminding you of who Jerome is. He was selected 24th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded three times in his first full year. Once settling with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jerome averaged a career-high 10.7 points and 3.6 assists. He most recently played quality basketball with the Golden State Warriors in 2023. He is now 27 years old and entering his sixth NBA season.
The Cavaliers signed Jerome with the hopes of padding their backcourt depth. For a team with two dynamic guards, their bench has been lacking in two key departments: playmaking and shot-making. This is where Jerome is theoretically a great fit for the second unit.
At his best, Jerome has been a stereotypical backup point guard. He takes care of the ball, doesn’t get caught calling his own number or making poor decisions, and shoots it with efficiency. Jerome knows his role and sticks to it. Again, on paper, this is everything you’d hope from a bench player.
Oh, and it’s worth mentioning that he’s 6’5”. A guard with a little bit of size is a welcomed addition for the Cavs.
The issue is Jerome just hasn’t been available. His fit with the team doesn’t mean much if it remains hypothetical. It will take a prolonged stretch of health before we can even feel comfortable about Jerome’s place with the team after last season’s debacle.
This is maybe the most important thing to keep in mind. Jerome hasn’t played NBA-level basketball in nearly a year. Even the best players in the league would struggle to find their groove. But for someone like Jerome, this process could be even more painstaking.
For this reason, I don’t think we should place hefty expectations on Jerome. Not that anyone was doing that, anyway. But while Jerome could absolutely become the de-facto backup point guard — it’s important to stress patience. There was always going to be a battle for this position. Jerome’s previous injury is only another obstacle for him to overcome.
Jerome will be competing with Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Craig Porter Jr., Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson for reserve minutes in the backcourt. There isn’t a guarantee that he would have won the job last season and there’s no certainty Jerome can win the job this year either.
The key for Jerome will be availability and consistency. He has a chance to be a reliable floor general who can shoot 40% from deep and organize an offense. Jerome’s sturdy presence would be a breath of fresh air compared to some of the more sporadic performances we have seen from various Cavs reserves.
But again, it all comes down to being available. Jerome needs to stay healthy long enough to give himself a runway before we can discuss taking flight. I wouldn’t bet on Jerome being in the day-one rotation but it’s a realistic outcome if he can avoid another season of injury.