Grizzlies sign free agent Ty Jerome

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Former Virginia star Ty Jerome, who had a sterling season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has agreed to a three-year, $28-million free agent contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jerome averaged a career-high 12.5 points, was lethal from 3-point range (44 percent) and made more than 50 percent of his overall field-goal attempts for Cleveland this past season. He was a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

Several teams were interested in Jerome after the Cavaliers obtained Lonzo Ball in a trade and retained Sam Merrill in a $38 million, four-year deal. Those two moves didn’t leave Cleveland with enough salary cap to retain Jerome.