Ty

Jerome

Jerome suffered a high-grade calf strain during the preseason. At the time, the update was that he’d be re-evaluated in four weeks. Four weeks later, the 28-year-old point guard is expected to miss another 6-9 weeks. Jaylen Wells will continue to pick up minutes while Jerome is out.

Jerome injured his right calf four minutes into Friday’s preseason finale against the Heat. According to the Grizzlies, the guard has been diagnosed with a high-grade calf strain and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. With Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) out indefinitely and Ja Morant (ankle) working his way back after missing the entire preseason, rotation minutes may be available to rookie Javon Small. While solid during the preseason, Small is a deep-league streamer at best.

Jerome, who missed both shot attempts, injured his calf four minutes into Friday’s preseason finale. The Grizzlies were already without Ja Morant (ankle), and it was announced on Saturday that Scotty Pippen Jr. will undergo surgery to address a toe injury. If Jerome misses time and Morant remains out, the Grizzlies may begin the regular season with a point guard rotation of Javon Small and Cam Spencer. There’s no need to draft either one, but both should be on your streaming radars ahead of Wednesday’s opener against New Orleans.

The Grizzlies announced Saturday that Pippen will need to undergo a sesamoidectomy to address discomfort in his left big toe. While the team has officially released no timeline, as Pippen has yet to undergo the procedure, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the guard could be out for at least 12 weeks. Given the sprained ankle that sidelined starter Ja Morant during the preseason, not to mention his injury history, the Grizzlies are in trouble at point guard. While Morant is “progressing well” in his recovery, according to head coach Tuomas Iisola, it isn’t guaranteed that he’ll be available when the regular season begins next week. Ty Jerome, whose fantasy value would have increased with Saturday’s news, injured his calf during Friday’s preseason finale.

The Grizzlies announced on Monday that Ja Morant was week-to-week with a sprained ankle. It’s possible that Memphis will begin the regular season without its starting point guard. Scotty Pippen Jr. emerged as a valuable streaming option last season, and Jerome could do the same in 2025-26 due to Morant’s injury history. In his first preseason game since signing with Memphis in free agency, Jerome started and was productive as a scorer and playmaker in his 19 minutes. Pippen played 20 minutes off the bench, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal and one three-pointer. Whichever guard wins that competition during the preseason will be worth having, especially in deeper leagues. And if Morant is not ready for the regular season, both will have value, similar to Indiana’s guard tandem of Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell.

It was a left ankle injury for Morant, who joins a long list of injured Grizzlies. With the start of the regular season a little over two weeks away, Morant’s status for opening night is certainly in question, and it would be surprising if he played much, if at all, during the preseason. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. would occupy the point guard minutes in Morant’s absence.

Jerome saw extensive action for the Cavaliers last season. The 27-year-old point guard appeared in a career-high 70 games averaging 19.9 minutes per game. Jerome averaged 12.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game and shot a career-best 43 percent from behind the three-point line. While Jerome struggled in the playoffs, his signing is one of the best values of free agency so far. If Ja Morant continues to struggle with injuries, Jerome has paths to real fantasy value in 2025-26.

Injuries have limited Lonzo in recent seasons, but he’s still an impactful player when he’s on the floor. Now, he’ll be a strong reserve playmaking option behind Darius Garland. Ball’s addition likely means that Ty Jerome will sign elsewhere in free agency after being one of the best bench options in the league last season. Ball’s departure should also open up minutes for Ayo Dosunmu off the bench as the primary reserve in the backcourt. Reports from April indicated that Ball should be ready to go for training camp after missing the final two months of last season with a wrist injury.

Garland picked up the injury on March 23 against the Jazz and played through it before ultimately missing time. He missed four of the Cavs’ final seven games of the regular season and Games 1 and 2 of the first-round playoff series with Indiana, re-aggravating the injury in the process. If Ty Jerome re-signs with Cleveland this offseason, he’s the guy most likely to replace Garland in the starting five. Donovan Mitchell’s usage rate spiked when Garland sat and he’d appear to be in line for some big fantasy lines early in the season while Garland is sidelined.

Mitchell didn’t return after halftime of Sunday’s blowout loss, and Ty Jerome started in his place for the second half. The Cavs were getting stomped 80-39, but apparently the injury is more serious than initially thought, and his absence in the second half was more than precautionary. If he’s unable to go, Jerome would likely get the starting nod as Cleveland faces elimination at home down 3-1 in the series.