The Suns finally get their point guard in Ty Jerome
It feels like the Phoenix Suns have been on a perpetual hunt for a point guard since they traded Steve Nash to the Lakers seven years ago. In the intervening period, some guards have passed through Phoenix, and have even enjoyed successful seasons. Goran Dragic made an All-NBA team before he was shipped to Miami. Eric Bledsoe enjoyed a good amount of success before deciding he didn’t want to be there.
But ever since the Bledsoe trade, it feels like the search for their long-lost point guard has intensified. Their owner, Robert Sarver, even fired former general manager Ryan McDonough and cited his inability to find a capable starting point guard as one of his reasons. Since McDonough’s firing, they’ve trotted out Elie Okobo, De’Anthony Melton and Tyler Johnson and, to no one’s surprise, none of them have proven to be the long-term answer at the position.
Many thought they were zeroing in on a point guard with the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, but they chose to wait, and they were rewarded when Ty Jerome fell into their lap.
Jerome isn’t the flashiest, nor the most skilled guard in this draft. He doesn’t have Ja Morant’s bounce or Coby White’s end-to-end speed. But, in leading Virginia to a National Title this past year, all of his skills were on display. He’s always in control and never in a hurry. While he won’t blow by anyone at the next level, he can use change-of-pace dribbles to get his defender on his hip, where he can either get to his step-back jumper or drive into the teeth of the defense and make the correct pass out to an open shooter.
Too often, everything for the Suns fell on the shoulders of Devin Booker. Jerome should be able to help with some of the playmaking duties this year, which will allow Booker to slide back to his natural role as a dangerous scorer.