Making the Case for Ty Jerome’s Future in Oklahoma City

Ty Jerome didn’t have the yr he hoped to have in Oklahoma Metropolis this season. Whereas he was nonetheless a veteran presence and displayed excessive IQ on the ground, his capturing splits have been down. As a 3-point specialist, Jerome shot simply 29% from downtown.

Whereas his splits have been low, Jerome continues to be probably a worthwhile piece shifting ahead for Oklahoma Metropolis. He’s a yr faraway from averaging 10.7 factors per sport whereas capturing 42.3% from 3-point vary on 5 makes an attempt.

Jerome needed to man the second unit alone in a great portion of the video games he performed in, making a few of the photographs he took harder than final season. With a scarcity of playmakers on the ground, Jerome didn’t get a ton of unpolluted, open 3-pointers.

The Virginia product is taller than most would count on, standing at 6-foot-5. Whereas he’s not essentially quick or athletic, he’s a really artistic and good participant. He’s additionally an especially correct free-throw shooter, indicating this season may’ve been an excessive droop. Jerome completed the season at 80.9% from the road.

Whereas he’s by no means going to be a starter, and won’t even play important minutes, there’ll at all times be a necessity for a real shooter on Oklahoma Metropolis’s roster. When the Thunder are able to compete, they are going to want shooters at a price worth to encompass their stars. Having in-house shooters on team-friendly contracts may give the Thunder tons of wiggle room in free company and constructing the workforce going ahead.

Take the Warmth for instance. Sure, Duncan Robinson was discovered from inside the group, however they received nowhere close to a price contract for a premium shooter. Robinson is undoubtedly on a distinct stage then Jerome, however he has been relegated to the bench within the NBA Playoffs. The Warmth signed him to a 5 yr $90 million deal, and he’s performed simply 14 minutes in 5 video games in opposition to the 76ers.

If the Thunder aren’t seeking to pay almost $18 million per yr for capturing wants, grooming present Thunder gamers can be the very best path to go. It additionally helps that Jerome is a workforce man who has helped OKC set the inspiration of its tradition shifting ahead.

Other than the basketball facet, Jerome additionally appears to be greatest pals with Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, too. It’s at all times a wise transfer to maintain your star completely satisfied, and it could’t damage workforce chemistry preserving a man like Jerome. The workforce clearly has the utmost confidence in him, too, as Gilgeous-Alexander did name him the very best shooter in all the NBA.

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