Grizzlies Win by Letting Jerome Walk

Memphis pulled off a steal by landing Ty Jerome on a three-year, $28M deal via their room exception — a move that looks like pure genius, especially after Cleveland let him walk. While the Cavs made their first Eastern Conference Finals in years, they’re now getting crushed by the Knicks, partly because they lack consistent bench scoring. Cleveland had to choose between Jerome and Sam Merrill, and they picked Merrill — a solid defender and shooter — but Jerome’s the better all-around player. Even though Jerome struggled in the Pacers series, he was vital in Cleveland’s first-round win over Miami and was a Sixth Man of the Year finalist. He took less money to join Memphis, and his rough playoff showing likely hurt his value. Now, Jerome is lighting up Memphis’ offense, averaging nearly 20 points and 6 assists in just 15 games, with elite shooting efficiency and comfort running the pick-and-roll. He’s a perfect fit for Memphis’ rebuild — a proven veteran who could be a key point guard if Ja Morant is traded or a top-tier bench player if he stays. With Memphis’ young core and draft assets, they need guys like Jerome to elevate their game, and he’s already showing he can do that. Cleveland’s decision to let him go? A costly mistake they’re paying for in spades. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1600cf68e0215964