Grizzlies Have an Underrated Trade Asset Hiding in Plain Sight

September 4, 2026 - 09:59

The Memphis Grizzlies have spent most of this season dealing with injuries, lineup changes, and the usual ups and downs of a young team trying to find its footing in the Western Conference. But while most of the attention goes to Ja Morant and the frontcourt rotation, there is a quieter story developing on the bench. Ty Jerome, the guard who came over in a deal last year, is starting to look like someone other teams might actually want.

Bleacher Report recently put together a list of under-the-radar trade candidates, and Jerome made the cut. That is not exactly headline news, but it does point to something real. Jerome is not a star, and he probably never will be. But he is a solid ball handler, a decent shooter from deep, and a guy who does not panic with the ball in his hands. In a league where backup point guards are always in demand, that has value.

The catch is health. Jerome has spent a lot of time on the sidelines since entering the NBA, and that has kept him from building any real momentum. When he is on the floor, though, he looks like a professional. He moves the ball quickly, hits open shots, and plays within himself. For a contending team that needs a steady second-unit floor general, that is exactly the kind of player who can help in a playoff series.

Memphis does not have to move him. He is on a reasonable contract, and the team could use his depth if injuries keep piling up. But if the front office decides to make a bigger move before the deadline, Jerome is the kind of piece that could be bundled with a pick or two to sweeten a deal. He is not going to headline a trade, but he could be the part that makes one work.

The Grizzlies have bigger names and bigger questions. But sometimes the most useful asset is the one nobody is talking about. If Jerome stays healthy and keeps playing the way he has lately, Memphis might have more leverage than people realize.