November 23, 2020
Jerami Grant to Detroit Pistons stunned, but here is what he brings
The Detroit Pistons were expected to be active in NBA free agency. They began last week as one of the NBA's handful of teams with significant cap space, positioning them to make a major swing. Christian Wood seemed like a probable option to re-sign after a strong finish to last season, and top free agents such as Fred VanVleet were possibilities.
Instead, Detroit handed a three-year, $60 million contract to Jerami Grant in a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets, where he was largely a bench player last season, Autel mk908p
. and wasn't projected to sign a deal that large. The Pistons also acquired the draft rights to Nikola Radicevic (the 57th pick in the 2015 draft) in exchange for cash considerations, as the Nuggets opened up a massive trade exception.
But after a strong performance in the Orlando bubble, Grant was due for a pay raise. He was the Nuggets' best defender in the playoffs, handling everyone from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to Kawhi Leonard. He declined his $9.3 million player option for the 2020-21 season, an indicator he and his agent were confident his market value had risen.
[ Sorting through Pistons' wild and confusing moves in free agency ]
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They were right, since the Pistons more than doubled his annual salary. It was a surprising move for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2008, and has more pressing roster needs than figuring out how to slow down the NBA's most dangerous scorers deep in the playoffs. Grant's versatility on defense is rivaled by few players, and he has become a strong shooter the past two seasons. He raises the Pistons' talent. To live up to his contract, he'll need to do more.
He could become a good-value contract, as there are few players in the NBA who can shoot and defend as well as Grant can. He's 26 and has improved immensely through six seasons. General manager Troy Weaver appears to believe there's more to Grant's game.
Considering he left a contending Nuggets team for a bigger role with the Pistons, it appears Grant thinks so too. And he'll be in the spotlight this season, as he carries the distinction of being Weaver's first free agency splash. After two strong seasons as a high-level role player on playoff teams, he has an opportunity to prove he can be a foundational piece for a rebuilding team hoping to eventually get to that level.
[ After a prolific week, it's clear Troy Weaver is shaping Pistons his way ]
Grant averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season and drained 38.9% (98-for-252) of his 3-point attempts - a strong percentage. He shot 39.2% from 3 the prior season on a similar number of attempts (115-for-293). After not being much of an outside threat during his first four seasons in the NBA, it's become his most dangerous offensive weapon. He has taken 545 attempts during the past two seasons, after taking 528 during his first four and making 30.1%.
He's also a good finisher at the rim. But overall, he isn't as versatile on offense as he is on defense. He doesn't create for himself between the rim and 3-point line, as 84% of his made shots last season were assisted, per Cleaning The Glass.
Grant thrived as a catch-and-shoot player, with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Monte Morris working to create open looks. But when he gets a step on his defender, he's capable of quickly bursting to the rim. He doesn't create for others: His 6.7% assist rate is poor, even for a forward.
Detroit Pistons headlines from Freep.com, delivered every day at 5:30 a.m.
Grant also isn't a strong rebounder, grabbing 10.1% of opponent's missed shots while on the floor last season, and 3.2% of the available offensive rebounds. For comparison, Wood grabbed 20.9% and 7.9%, respectively - both healthy marks for a big man.
[ Pistons' free agency moves: What people are saying ]
But what separates Grant and made him eligible for a massive pay raise is his defense. In a league where having good multi-positional defenders is a must for contendi...
Instead, Detroit handed a three-year, $60 million contract to Jerami Grant in a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets, where he was largely a bench player last season, Autel mk908p
. and wasn't projected to sign a deal that large. The Pistons also acquired the draft rights to Nikola Radicevic (the 57th pick in the 2015 draft) in exchange for cash considerations, as the Nuggets opened up a massive trade exception.
But after a strong performance in the Orlando bubble, Grant was due for a pay raise. He was the Nuggets' best defender in the playoffs, handling everyone from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to Kawhi Leonard. He declined his $9.3 million player option for the 2020-21 season, an indicator he and his agent were confident his market value had risen.
[ Sorting through Pistons' wild and confusing moves in free agency ]
A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
They were right, since the Pistons more than doubled his annual salary. It was a surprising move for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2008, and has more pressing roster needs than figuring out how to slow down the NBA's most dangerous scorers deep in the playoffs. Grant's versatility on defense is rivaled by few players, and he has become a strong shooter the past two seasons. He raises the Pistons' talent. To live up to his contract, he'll need to do more.
He could become a good-value contract, as there are few players in the NBA who can shoot and defend as well as Grant can. He's 26 and has improved immensely through six seasons. General manager Troy Weaver appears to believe there's more to Grant's game.
Considering he left a contending Nuggets team for a bigger role with the Pistons, it appears Grant thinks so too. And he'll be in the spotlight this season, as he carries the distinction of being Weaver's first free agency splash. After two strong seasons as a high-level role player on playoff teams, he has an opportunity to prove he can be a foundational piece for a rebuilding team hoping to eventually get to that level.
[ After a prolific week, it's clear Troy Weaver is shaping Pistons his way ]
Grant averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season and drained 38.9% (98-for-252) of his 3-point attempts - a strong percentage. He shot 39.2% from 3 the prior season on a similar number of attempts (115-for-293). After not being much of an outside threat during his first four seasons in the NBA, it's become his most dangerous offensive weapon. He has taken 545 attempts during the past two seasons, after taking 528 during his first four and making 30.1%.
He's also a good finisher at the rim. But overall, he isn't as versatile on offense as he is on defense. He doesn't create for himself between the rim and 3-point line, as 84% of his made shots last season were assisted, per Cleaning The Glass.
Grant thrived as a catch-and-shoot player, with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Monte Morris working to create open looks. But when he gets a step on his defender, he's capable of quickly bursting to the rim. He doesn't create for others: His 6.7% assist rate is poor, even for a forward.
Detroit Pistons headlines from Freep.com, delivered every day at 5:30 a.m.
Grant also isn't a strong rebounder, grabbing 10.1% of opponent's missed shots while on the floor last season, and 3.2% of the available offensive rebounds. For comparison, Wood grabbed 20.9% and 7.9%, respectively - both healthy marks for a big man.
[ Pistons' free agency moves: What people are saying ]
But what separates Grant and made him eligible for a massive pay raise is his defense. In a league where having good multi-positional defenders is a must for contendi...
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