Ty Jerome could hit free agency in 2027, making the productive Grizzlies guard a potential trade candidate before the deadline.
As it stands, Ty Jerome is arguably the best player on the Memphis Grizzlies, but he may not be there for long. Yahoo Sports' Dan Devine identified him as one of five interesting players who could hit free agency next summer.
Jerome holds a $9.66 million player option for 2027-28. If he maintains his expected level of play, he'll likely decline that option. As Devine points out, "Jerome was one of the most productive players in the entire NBA on a per-minute basis" in 2025-26.
What should the Grizzlies do about it?
Grizzlies Must Treat Jerome as a Trade Candidate
Specifically, Jerome averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42.0% from three-point range. This is a 6'5" combo guard without a significant weakness in his game.
Unfortunately, those numbers came in just 15 games. Durability has generally been a concern throughout Jerome's career, and his first season in Memphis was interrupted by calf and ankle injuries.
That could limit his value in free agency, but if he can string together a relatively healthy 2026-27, his next salary should comfortably exceed that $9.66 million option.
That would be in everyone's best interests — both Jerome's and the Grizzlies'.
Memphis needs to give Jerome every opportunity to shine at the beginning of the season. He should start. If he plays as well as expected, he could fetch a meaningful asset at the deadline.
Sure, some teams will be dissuaded by his pending free agency, but surely some contender will need a knockdown shooter who can make plays on both ends of the floor.
Jerome has already been identified as one of the Grizzlies' potential trade candidates as Memphis builds around Cameron Boozer.
But should the Grizzlies covet the same skillset?
Grizzlies Could Still Keep Jerome
There's a world where the Grizzlies exceed expectations. Perhaps Boozer looks ready from day one. The Grizzlies could flirt with play-in consideration and decide that keeping an integral role player like Jerome makes more sense than moving him.
It's possible. But it's less likely than not.
The Western Conference is a gauntlet. The Grizzlies are mostly young. They'll probably miss the postseason, and that will probably be an obvious outcome before the trade deadline.
That's nothing to worry about. It's what's expected of a team in the infancy stages of a rebuild.
If everything goes as expected, they must move Jerome at the deadline. Receiving any asset for him would be better than letting him walk.
You always want to receive value for the best player on your roster.
