Jerami Grant escaped Oklahoma City just in time.
When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers and began to take inquiries on franchise point guard Russell Westbrook, it was clear that everyone on the roster would be made available for trade.
This was especially true for Jerami Grant, who will make over $9 million this upcoming season before having a player option in the summer of 2020. Hoping to get at least something out of Grant's value, the Thunder dealt him to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick.
However, Nuggets president Tim Connelly made it very clear that the team considered Grant more than a short-term piece on a roster that will try to make noise in the Western Conference. Connelly said that the team had pursued Grant for awhile:
Tim Connelly on Jerami Grant: “He’s a guy we’ve long coveted…he’s going to be here for a long time.”
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) July 11, 2019
After starting just one game and playing a little over 20 minutes per game for the Thunder in the 2017-18 season, Grant started 77 of 80 contests this past year while playing over 32 minutes per night.
At 6'9″ and 220 pounds, Grant was an exceptional defender at the power forward spot despite his relative lack of size. He averaged 1.3 blocks per game while nearly racking up a steal per night as well.
Grant's athleticism and ability to stretch the floor made him a dangerous weapon on the offensive end as well. He shot nearly 50 percent from the field and over 39 percent beyond the arc, proving to be a capable third option on a team that struggled to find perimeter scorers.
Although Grant will more than likely come off the bench, he figures to be a fixture in head coach Mike Malone's rotations.
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