Denver Nuggets fans are well aware that the team may have to ultimately replace Russell Westbrook this offseason. There's really not going to be any way to know if Westbrook will come back until later this summer. If Russ does opt to leave Denver, there could be an ideal replacement out there on the market for the Nuggets: Ty Jerome.
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard really made a statement with his play this season. Although he still had a down series in the Cavs' second round match up with the Indiana Pacers, many still believe that he is due for a relatively big pay increase this summer. Jerome will probably earn a $12 to 14 million-level contract in the off season, which is probably a little bit more than Denver can reasonably offer without making a significant roster shakeup.
With that being said, a report from Cleveland.com indicates that the Nuggets have expressed interest in Jerome. So even if it's not probable, there's reason to think it could happen.
Ty Jerome would fit well in Denver - but the price may be too high
In the hypothetical scenario where Denver is able to add Jerome to its roster this offseason, he would fill in nicely in the Russell Westbrook role, assuming Westbrook does not remain with the team. Ultimately, these are the kind of additions the Nuggets need to be making if they are to go in to next season being a serious championship contender.
Think about where this team is right now, and think about how close they are to truly being a top of the line championship-caliber team once again. The Denver Nuggets just made this 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder team looked positively beatable. That's the same team that's currently rolling the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, and that looks like they're going to easily cruise to a championship.
Maybe the Nuggets didn't have the strongest regular season ever in 2024-25, but it's obvious that if you put the right pieces around Nikola Jokic, you're going to be extremely dangerous playoff team.
It should be painstakingly obvious to Denver's front office and decision makers that they're just a few key additions away from being one of the top favorites for the 2026 NBA championship. If that means spending money to add Ty Jerome, you might just have to do it.