The Oklahoma City Thunder kickstarted free agency with the surprising signing of small forward Paul George. They have now managed to lock up another one of their players as well.
Small forward Jerami Grant was reportedly among Oklahoma City's top priorities this offseason. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, both sides have come to terms on a three-year, $27 million deal:
Oklahoma City forward Jerami Grant has agreed to a three-year, $27M contract to return to the Thunder, league sources told ESPN. Deal includes a player option on the third year, sources tell ESPN.
The signing is icing on the cake for the Thunder. They managed to not only keep George around but they also re-signed one of his favorite teammates. The star forward was not shy about how important it was Grant stood on the roster.
Grant showed plenty of promise in the 2017-18 NBA season despite his limited his limited playing time. He was largely relegated to doing the dirty work for the Thunder given the new dynamic of the team. As a result, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. However, he could be poised for a much larger role next season.
Needless to say, Oklahoma City is spending big money to keep their core around for the long-term. Grant's signing will add to the steep luxury tax the team is already paying. It is an interesting approach considering this is a team that was unable to make it out of the first round of the Western Conference. Regardless, the moves are indicative of their faith in this core group of players moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe