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Amid the brilliance of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic during the Nuggets’ magical run in the playoffs, defensive-minded combined forward Jerami Grant became a key cog for the young team. Known primarily for his tremendous work on defense, Grant also displayed vastly improved shooting from 3-point range.
With a 6’9 length frame and the mobility of a guard, Grant is the perfect archetype for a defensive end in today’s positionless basketball. Reports say he will opt out of the final year of his contract with the Nuggets, paving the way for the six-year-old forward to enter free agency without restrictions in the offseason.
There is no question that Grant will spark a lot of interest in free agency, so here is a list of the most possible destinations for the 26-year-old hardcore.
As the Wolves unfold their combination of young stars of D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns next season, there’s no question that the future looks bright in Minnesota. They also have the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, a shot at either LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards.
But defense remains a concern for the team. Malik Beasley, Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie have the potential to be great in that regard, but they need someone who is versatile enough to cover all the bases. That’s where Grant comes in, and it won’t come as a surprise if the Wolves aggressively pursue him in free agency.
With the intangibles and defensive versatility Grant brings, he would definitely help catapult this inexperienced squad of Lobos to greater heights.
With Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum already in charge of the offense, the Blazers will need more defensive arsenal if they want to become elite championship contenders next year. Trevor Ariza’s absence from the bubble hurt his chances of landing an upset with the Los Angeles Lakers, as they don’t have someone who can protect LeBron James or even Anthony Davis.
Grant has shown that he can at least contain those two stars, so there is reason to believe the Blazers will show interest in acquiring him. It won’t be easy as the Blazers’ pay books are already invested in their two back stars, especially considering Grant will demand a bigger payday.
But Portland has to get creative with this and do its best with its roster moves in the offseason.
It remains to be seen how committed the Nuggets will be to re-signing Grant, but sources say the latter continues to see Denver as his priority this offseason. Grant is averaging 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Nuggets this season, including his career-best 38% from beyond the arc.
So it goes without saying that the Nuggets have unleashed Grant’s true potential. He’s benefiting a lot from all the attention Murray and Jokic get, and Grant is making the most of the opportunity. Most importantly, it is with the Nuggets that he will have the best chance of competing for the championship.
Ultimately, it will come down to how much the Nuggets are willing to pay Grant for his excellent serves on both offense and defense.
