Don’t forget about Ty Jerome
Cavs news and links for Tuesday, August 27.
The Cleveland Cavaliers cautiously hope that Ty Jerome can make a difference now that he’s healthy.
The first sip
Jerome likely would have been prominently featured in Cleveland’s rotation last season had he been available. A 6’5” guard who takes care of the ball and shoots with efficiency is everything you’d hope from a backup.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors during the 2022-23 season, Jerome averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 assists on 38.9% shooting from deep. All the while, turning the ball over fewer than once per game. This type of stability is something the Cavs haven’t had on their bench in years.
Cleveland has been searching for a reliable backup point guard since losing Ricky Rubio to an ACL injury in 2021. They have tried to fill this void with various guards, including an attempted reunion with Rubio himself. And still, the door is wide open for anyone to provide quality minutes.
Jerome won’t have to do much. The Cavalier bench has been so erratic in recent years that all Jerome has to do is avoid being a detriment to clear the bar. A quiet, sturdy presence as a backup point guard would be a nice change of pace.
Of course, it all starts with being available. Jerome has to prove he can stay on the court before earning a place in the rotation.
The second sip
Before anyone considers this article as “Craig Porter Jr. erasure”, let’s highlight the differences between him and Jerome.
Jerome, the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has played five seasons in the league (including his two games with Cleveland last season). This gives him the advantage of experience over the undrafted Porter.
Likely, both Porter and Jerome are already near their ceilings as NBA players. The difference is Jerome’s size and three-point shooting makes him a better fit for what the Cavaliers are hoping to accomplish. Porter still has severe limitations as a shooter and faces an uphill battle as an undersized, 6’1” guard.
Assuming Jerome is healthy, there will be a battle for the backup position. Porter sparked interest throughout last season for his athleticism and high IQ for a rookie. Jerome, on the other hand, has much to prove. But if all things are equal — my bet is on Jerome winning the job due to his complementary skill-sets.
Random Cavalier of the Day - Georges Niang
While we are on the topic of “much to prove” let’s discuss another addition from last summer.
Georges Niang did not have the season anyone would have hoped. He shot a career-low from deep and was as bad of a defender as any rotational player in the league. He’ll have a tough time washing out the sour taste he left by shooting 22% from the field in the postseason.
Niang’s gunner mentality has its benefits. His willingness to shoot from above the break helped Cleveland open the floor to a marginal degree. A better season from Niang would mean more than just shooting with efficiency, though. He has a long way to go before being a reliable enough decision-maker to justify being on the floor in key games.
While I have modest faith in Jerome redeeming himself this year — I can’t say I feel the same for Niang.
WNBA Schedule Today
- Las Vegas Aces vs Dallas Wings - 8 PM