The Detroit Pistons will almost certainly make significant additions to their roster this summer. After struggling mightily on the offensive end and underwhelming in the playoffs, the Pistons will be aggressive in pursuing upgrades. While most of the attention has understandably been given to star players who may be on the trade block this offseason, the Pistons will have a variety of options thanks to their flexibility, draft capital, and assets.
One of those options is Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies. The 28-year-old point guard is largely going under the radar among trade candidates, but he could be as good a fit as any for the Pistons.
Ty Jerome could be an even better trade target than some All-Stars for Pistons
A big reason Jerome has gone under the radar is that he missed most of last season with a serious calf strain. After signing a three-year, $28 million deal in the offseason, Jerome suffered a calf strain that kept him sidelined for the first half of the season.
Upon returning to action, Jerome was highly efficient and productive. The 28-year-old averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists on 47.4/42.0/87.5 shooting splits in only 22.6 minutes per game. In the final stretch of the season, Jerome was sparingly used as the Grizzlies went full tanking mode.
This was a continuation of his previous season with the Cavaliers, when he burst onto the scene as one of the best backups in the league. He had an impressive 64.3% True Shooting and averaged 12.5 points per game in his last season in Cleveland.
Whether it's as an elite sixth man or a starter next to Cade Cunningham, Jerome makes a ton of sense in Detroit. He is the type of versatile offensive talent that the Pistons need: one who can space the floor when he is off-the-ball, but can also create his own shot.
The best part of Jerome is the fact that he only makes $9.2 million next season, making him an attractive trade target. He wouldn't take away from Detroit's financial flexibility going forward. The Pistons can send the Grizzlies Ron Holland and draft capital to acquire him.
Since the Grizzlies have the No. 3 overall pick and are continuing their rebuild, they should be open to trading Jerome, who will turn 29 before the season. They still have Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. on the roster, making Jerome somewhat expendable.
Jerome is obviously a defensive liability, but if any team can cover for his weaknesses on that end, it's the Detroit Pistons. We even saw Duncan Robinson survive on defense as a Piston when he was surrounded by Detroit's elite defensive talent. Jerome is a more advanced offensive player than Robinson thanks to his ability to run pick-and-roll and score inside the arc.
This should give the Pistons a desperately needed offensive boost. Star hunting may seem appealing this summer, but perhaps a better option could be to go for an underrated point guard on the rise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google