Suns’ Ty Jerome, Cam Johnson both out for season opener
Oct 22, 2019, 4:37 PM | Updated: Oct 23, 2019, 5:06 pm
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns will be without both of their first-round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft to start the season.
Ty Jerome (right ankle sprain) and Cam Johnson (left calf soreness) are out for the season opener on Wednesday at home against the Sacramento Kings.
Jerome, 22, was one of a few players battling for minutes behind Ricky Rubio and Devin Booker in the Phoenix backcourt. Head coach Monty Williams and general manager James Jones have both not committed as to who is the team’s backup point guard, and with Jerome out, that will leave the minutes to a combination of Tyler Johnson and Jevon Carter.
The Suns acquired the draft rights to Jerome on draft night, trading a protected first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Boston Celtics in exchange for center Aron Baynes and the No. 24 pick, which is where Jerome was selected.
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Johnson, 23, is going to have a more difficult path to playing time than Jerome. With Kelly Oubre Jr. and Mikal Bridges commanding so many minutes on the wing, it will be a challenge for Williams to squeeze in Johnson to the team’s rotation. Like Jerome, though, Johnson has been one of the names that has had the most buzz throughout training camp and the preseason.
The Suns traded down from sixth overall in the draft to 11th, picking up power forward Dario Saric from the Minnesota Timberwolves and then selecting Johnson.
Tip-off on Wednesday is set for 7 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
