Cavs’ Ty Jerome Now Expected To Move On Following Trade For Lonzo Ball

It’s hardly official, but it does indeed feel as if Ty Jerome has played his final game for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sources now tell Hoops Wire that they expect Jerome to sign elsewhere after the NBA free agency period begins on Sunday. Along with agreeing to trade Isaac Okoro to the Bulls for Ball, the Cavs reportedly are re-signing guard Sam Merrill to a four-year contract.

All of it is highly likely to mean the end of the Jerome era in Cleveland.

“The (Merrill) deal cements the Cavaliers’ point guard depth chart of Darius Garland, Ball and Merrill — as the expectation is that the franchise will lose free agent Ty Jerome in free agency,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote, citing sources.

Jerome is an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team and not allowing the Cavs to match. 

“I don’t think (the trade for Ball) means Jerome is 100 percent a goner,” an opposing scout told Hoops Wire. “But let’s just say I’d be surprised if he’s back.”

Jerome, 27, is coming off a career season in his first full year in Cleveland, averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists, and shooting 43.9 percent on 3-pointers, in 70 games. His resurgence was a big reason the Cavs finished 64-18, their best record without LeBron James on the team.

He was again brilliant in the first-round playoff sweep of the Miami Heat … then not so much in the second-round collapse vs. the Indiana Pacers. That performance against the Pacers may have cost Jerome some money and created some doubts for the Cavs on whether he was the long-term solution.

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