Cavs’ Ty Jerome To Get Another Shot At Becoming Backcourt X-Factor

On the bright side, the Cavaliers have only lost once when Ty Jerome plays more than five minutes.

On the downside, Jerome has only done that twice since joining the Cavaliers. 

Those were in the first two games of last season. Jerome played five-and-half minutes in the opening win over the Brooklyn Nets. He played a little more than nine in the next game, a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Four points, three assists, one rebound, one turnover and two personal fouls. Those are Jerome’s career numbers with the Cavs. 

Then came a mysterious ankle injury — which only seemed to get worse and eventually required surgery. Jerome never got back in uniform after Oct. 27. So it’s almost been a year since he’s played an NBA game.

Things will be pretty different when he returns. For Jerome, it’s almost as if this will be his first Cavs season. Cleveland has a new coach in Kenny Atkinson. Point guard Craig Porter Jr. is coming off a pleasant surprise of a rookie year. The Cavs also drafted Jaylon Tyson, who looked plenty capable of handling the ball at this level in the Las Vegas Summer League.

So when it comes to the primary ballhandler behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers may have a bit of a training camp battle on their hands. But that could only be considered a healthy and good thing. 

Jerome, of course, will be in the mix. He may even be the leader in the clubhouse when the Cavs head to Florida’s IMG Academy for the first week of training camp. That’s something Atkinson and the Cavs would love to see — for someone to step up and claim that backup point guard spot as his own.

BELIEF IN TY

Jerome came to Cleveland via free agency, signing a two-year deal worth a reported $4.6 million in July 2023. So he’s on the books for about $2.3 million this year. If he can bring what the Cavs hope, that’s a massive bargain.

But he’s also now 27 years old, making this sort of a Last Chance Saloon of a season. Most players on expiring deals can feel that way, and for guys like Jerome, there’s little doubt that’s exactly what this is.

The good news is, at 6-foot-5, he has the size and has shown plenty of promise to fill the role that the Cavs seek. He can handle the ball. He can shoot. He has been around the block since being selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has seen it all at this level.

Jerome has spent time with the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors — with his best year coming in 2020-21 with OKC. That’s when he averaged 10.7 points and shot a sizzling 42% on 3-pointers.

The issue with Jerome has been staying on the court and keeping a regular spot in the rotation. He has never appeared in more than 48 games. He never has been given a real opportunity at regular minutes.

Both Jerome and the Cavs are hoping that all changes this season, that he will become the new face that helps them reach another level. And there is some belief within the organization that Jerome indeed can become that underrated X-factor in reserve. 

The Cavaliers are one of just three teams that haven’t signed an outside free agent to a standard contract. So they are indeed relying on the likes of Jerome, Porter, Tyson or perhaps Sam Merrill to be that third or fourth ultra-reliable guard (along with wings Caris LeVert and presumably Isaac Okoro).

So yes, in about a month, Jerome will get another chance to make his case. Everyone involved will be keeping a close eye on seeing how it goes. For the Cavs, it could be the secret weapon every team desires.