The 2019 NBA Draft was an interesting series of events for the Phoenix Suns. 2019 was the year the NBA, in an effort to de-incentivize tanking, chose to impose different odds for lottery teams. Gone were the days of the weighted lottery system. The Suns, who had the 2nd worst record in the NBA (19-63) normally would have a 19.9% chance to receive the #1 overall pick, and worst-case-scenario would see them picking 5th. The odds shifted in the Zion Sweepstakes of 2019, with the Suns receiving a 14% chance at #1 and a worst-cast-scenario of 6th.
And the worst case scenario happened.
While the team with 7th worst record in the NBA, the New Orleans Pelicans, danced and cheered in the streets of the French Quarter, the Phoenix Suns were bestowed with the 6th overall pick. No potential superstar in Zion Williamson. No team-need PG in Ja Morant. Just anger and frustration with a system that too often has landed on tails when the Suns called heads. James Jones would have to navigate the waters of his first draft with care, and the rapids he faced were the scrutiny and doubts of a beleaguered fan base and national doubters.
The 2018-2019 Suns season provided one clear and glaring need: a distributing point guard. 2018 #1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton proved he was a special talent, averaging 16.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg. He was quick, athletic, and efficient with the ball in his hands. The problem? Getting the ball into his hands. The Suns struggled throughout the campaign to provide Ayton with the ball inside. High screen and rolls with lazy entry passes often became turnovers.
Often? Who am I kidding…it happened all damn season. The issue wasn’t the spacing; the issue wasn’t the defensive switching. It was the recognition of the passer. Whether it was Devin Booker or Elie Okobo, Isaiah Canaan or Tyler Johnson, no one could effectively get Ayton the rock. Either to ball was thrown too far inside and the defensive disrupted it, or it was tossed too far outside and Ayton was 18 feet from the basket.
A point guard was needed. Phoenix has a culture of superior point guard play. Paul Westphal. Kevin Johnson. Jason Kidd. Steve Nash. Heck, I’ll even throw Goran Dragic and Jeff Hornacek in there. The landscape of the 2019 NBA Draft provided some options. No, Ja Morant would not be available at #6, but Darius Garland (Vanderbilt) or Coby White (UNC) might. Perhaps we could trade the pick and move up in the draft. Perhaps we would target a big name in free agency like D’Angelo Russell, Kyrie Irving, or Kemba Walker.
What would James Jones do? Which route would he go in finding an effective distributor? On June 20, 2019, we found out.
James Jones traded out of the #6 pick to receive the #11 pick and Dario Saric. Okay, this one I understood. A finesse big man with redounding ability and a draft asset. Essentially, Jones was upgrading the failed Dragan Bender Project. With that #11 pick he took Cameron Johnson, a 6’8” PF senior from North Carolina. The media bashed this pick (Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley gave it a D+). The fans bashed this pick. (But I’ll save that analysis for another day…in the meantime, keep shooting Cam!)
Jones then did something that excited the franchise. He traded the 2020 top-7 protected Bucks pick (acquired in the Bledsoe deal) to the Celtics for Aron Baynes and the 24th pick. Let’s face it, that Bucks asset was becoming weaker with every Antetokounmpo dunk. Getting anything for it was a smart move. Getting Baynes and an asset was genius. And who did he take at 24? Ty Jerome, the pride of New Rochelle, New York.
When Ty Jerome was selected in the ladder part of the first round, the rumblings began. Jerome, a 6’5” junior from the University of Virginia, was not the most athletic PG in the draft. He was not the household name with a YouTube reel of ankle-breaking highlights. He was not physically gifted with overwhelming natural tools. He was, however, a National Champion. He was an accurate passer (perhaps he could make an entry pass to Ayton!), a good shooter, and a guy with high IQ guy. With every expert’s analysis, the anticipation amongst Suns fans grew. Who did this guy remind us of? Cough…cough…Steve Nash…cough…
Ty Jerome is deceptively good. He makes the right pass. He makes the right read. He moves at a steady pace. He is confident in his abilities, and led Virginia to an ACC title (2018) and a National Championship (2019) in his 3 years with the team. He no doubtingly has had his fare share of doubters through the years. His response? Winning.
The point guard need was addressed. Following winning a little coin on the NCAA Tournament, I knew instantly who this guy was. He wouldn’t wow you, but he’d beat you. He would leave you shaking your head in amazement, but he was a floor general. I was pleased with this pick and hoped, in time, we have the PG this team needed. I don’t need him to fill up the bucket, we have Booker for that. I don’t need him to do posterizing dunks, we have Ayton and Oubre for that. I need him to facilitate this offense and create open shots for his teammates. Given his skillset, it appears that is what he will do.
The message Jones sent on Draft Day: We’re done with projects in PHX. Cam Johnson (23) and Ty Jerome (22) were not your typical 18/19-year-old draft day hopefuls. They were experienced college players who possessed specific skill sets designed to execute James Jones’ vision. Time would tell if the draft choices had legs, but the fact that Jones drafted players to fit an inside out system provided hope. Hope in the front office, hope in the Valley, and hope for a 30+ win season.
The hype around the rookie began in summer league, as he played 17 minutes per game, averaging 6.8 ppg and 3.8 apg in Las Vegas (that translates to 14.4 ppg and 7.6 apg per 36 mintues). The way he facilitated the offense and his presence on the court left many impressed. I was awestruck with how he methodically moved through the offense and set up his teammates. The Suns appeared to have drafted a steal, and many around the league began recognizing this as well.
Fast forward to the start of the 2019-2020 NBA Season. Jones’ addition of veteran PG Ricky Rubio instantly garnered results in the win column. His ability to spread the floor and pick apart defenses had an instant impact on the team. Seeing an effective and efficient point guard run the team nearly brought tears to my eyes. This is what we could be! Knowing that we have Rubio with Jerome waiting in the wings, learning, created hope. And a 7-3 start.
Sadly, Ricky Rubio brings with him a history of nagging injuries. In 2012 he tore his ACL and LCL. In 2014 he sat out with a severely sprained ankle. Last season, a Game 6 hamstring injury prevented him from showcasing his skillset in the NBA Playoffs. The injury bug hit on November 18, as Rubio was a late scratch with back spasms. He attempted to play against the Kings, but the spasms returned as he sat out the second half in a loss. Since his initial injury, the offense has sputtered, and the Suns have gone 1-4 in his absence.
Jerome too is injured. He has been out all season with a high ankle sprain suffered in practice just prior to the start of the NBA Season. And now, as Rubio continues to ride the pine with an injury himself, the fan base is turning their eyes to Jerome. The time is nearing in which he will be healthy once again, as he is headed to Flagstaff and the NAZ Suns to get some reps in. Once he is healthy and his name is announced at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the crowd will erupt. Not because of one thing he has done on the court. Because of the potential winning that comes with his presence. Because of the depth he brings to a position of need. Never have I seen such anticipation around a guy drafted with our 2nd pick.
He has the skillset necessary to help this team succeed. Are we naïve to think this? Perhaps. But we’ve earned that right. We've waited for the next Phoenix PG to arrive. Ty Jerome is that guy.