What would a successful 2023-24 look like for Cavaliers’ Ty Jerome?

Going into next season, it’s not the simplest thing to project what sort of role Ty Jerome is going to have for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jerome agreed to sign with Cleveland this offseason on a two-year, $5 million deal, after he spent last season with the Golden State Warriors, and the two previous seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was on a two-way deal with Golden State last year, in which he appeared in 45 games.

Jerome is not going to have nearly the role in the rotation of a player such as Caris LeVert, for example, and with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and others in the fold, Jerome’s minutes will likely vary. He should be involved on the perimeter, though, and with Ricky Rubio’s situation being uncertain with him taking time away from basketball to prioritize his mental health, Jerome could feasibly have an expanded role sans Rubio.

Jerome is not going provide the playmaking electricity Rubio would in that sense, but Jerome is a quality shooter, can play with or without the ball for stretches, and if given the chances, he can make winning plays.

So, what would a successful 2023-24 season look like for Jerome with the Cavaliers?

Jerome could feasibly factor into Cleveland’s rotation at both guard spots, in instances where Garland and Mitchell are staggered, and he could play some with LeVert with or without one of those guys for spurts.

Last season, Jerome did solid work with the Warriors, leading to him averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 assists per contest, in what was 18.1 minutes per game. He connected on 38.9 percent of his three-point attempts in 2022-23, and even on a two-way deal, did help Golden State when his opportunities arose.

This upcoming season with Cleveland, if Jerome has his share of rotational looks, if he were to post similar splits to that last year, that’d be pretty successful, also if he can prove viable on defense. He’s respectable on that end, for the most part, and if Jerome can mesh playing with Cleveland’s key options for stretches, that’d be meaningful.

If Jerome can hit shots from ball-swings on catch-and-shoot situations consistently, mix in some capable play in pick-and-roll situations at times as a playmaker and/or pull-up threat, and be competent on the perimeter defensively, that’d help Cleveland’s rotation.

If he can prove viable in a rotational sense if the opportunities come in early-season play, Jerome could potentially supplant Rubio looking onward it seems. No, he’s not Rubio as a pure lead guard passer, however, Jerome is a fine passer, and among combo guards, he placed in the 75th percentile in assist rate last season, per Cleaning The Glass.

Jerome is also a far more respectable off-ball player and shooter than Rubio, and it’s unclear if Rubio is going to ever be the same, frankly, given his second ACL tear back in late 2021. Rubio was not great last season.

In terms of what would seemingly be a solid statline for Jerome for this coming season, the following would indicate he had a nice campaign, based on the expectation.

A nice 2023-24 season from Jerome could feasibly be around six to seven points and three to 3.5 assists per game, with him playing in say, 60 regular season games.

Jerome’s chances throughout his career have varied, but the 26-year-old has shown how he can help his teams when the meaningful looks for him to come along.

If those come for him, and he can establish a rhythm, the Cavaliers may have gotten an underrated rotational pickup in free agency this last go-round.