Ty Jerome Named Memphis Grizzlies' Top Trade Asset

Ty Jerome sits first on the Memphis Grizzlies' list in a Bleacher Report ranking of every NBA team's top trade assets, published Wednesday by Grant Hughes. A 2031 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns is second, and a 2030 first from the Orlando Magic is third.

Hughes wrote that trading Jerome might look like a fireable offense after a start to the season he compared to an All-NBA guard's. He added that Jerome's history of injuries might make this the right moment to move him.

Jerome is 29. Hughes wrote that he and 32-year-old Jerami Grant do not fit the Grizzlies' timeline.

He also wrote that Memphis, off to a 6-1 start, could act as a cautious buyer, putting the Phoenix and Orlando picks on the table and possibly packaging them with Grant's $34 million salary.

Jerome is averaging 28.2 points through six games. He opened the season with a career-high 45 points against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 21, one more than the 44 Ja Morant scored in 2020, which had been the Grizzlies' record for a season opener.

On Monday, he scored 40 in a 135-134 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Grizzlies' first loss of the season. Jerome scored the final nine points of regulation to force overtime.

He had missed Saturday's win over the Sacramento Kings with upper back soreness.

The NBA named him Western Conference Player of the Week on Oct. 26, the first weekly award of his career. He averaged a league-leading 34.7 points over a 3-0 week.

Jerome's approach has stayed the same since training camp, and a 5-0 start did not change it.

"The vibes are the same, honestly," Jerome said after a 124-103 win at Portland on Oct. 29. "There wasn't one game on this trip that we were like, 'Oh, my God, we got to get [this one].' We got to play our brand of basketball. We make it about us."

"Early in the season, we're going to keep trying to get better," Jerome continued. "That's been our mindset from training camp to now. So if you ask me in two months, my mindset will be the same."

Memphis signed Jerome to a three-year contract in July 2025. He is making $9,220,050 this season and holds a $9,659,100 player option for 2027-28.

Jerome appeared in 15 games in his first season with the Grizzlies. A high-grade right calf strain kept him out until late January, and he ended the season with an ankle sprain.

Jerome said the Grizzlies brought him back through practices built on game looks and hard defense.

"That injury was kind of out of my control," Jerome explained. "It was a freak injury. A bad misstep, but shoutout to Eric Oetter, our trainer. He was great during my rehab process. Really helped me get right."

When Jerome returned, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said his minutes would stay capped around 20 as he worked back.

"Ty is definitely that guy," Iisalo said. "He's been that guy throughout his career."

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted Jerome 24th overall in 2019. He has also played for the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers, and his previous career high was 33 points, with Cleveland at Philadelphia on Jan. 24, 2025.

Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported last week that the Grizzlies are expected to receive trade offers for Jerome from contenders.

Memphis acquired the Phoenix pick from Utah on Feb. 3, 2026, in the trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz.

The Orlando pick came in the June 2025 trade that sent Desmond Bane to the Magic. Memphis also received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, Orlando's 2026 and 2028 first-round picks, and a top-two protected 2029 swap.

Grant arrived with Kris Murray in the summer trade that sent Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. He scored 11 points Monday.

Memphis is 6-1, second in the Western Conference behind the Houston Rockets (7-1). The Grizzlies host the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday at FedExForum, then the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.