3. Jerami Grant
Draft: 2014
Round: 2
Pick: 39
Player Comparison: Early career-Thaddeus Young/ This season- Chris Webber
Some may question why Grant is only No. 3 and not No. 1 after his dramatic change in his points per game. Grant went from a swingman that averages 12 points per game to the No. 1 option averaging 23 point sper game for the rebuilding Pistons.
To those who question why he is No. 3, he’s playing in an offense where he is the focal point, he’s playing for a bad team, but the jump from 12 points per game to 23 points per game and doubling his shot attempts while maintaining the same efficiency is very impressive. It’s not just the points either, his rebounds are up too, which is at around five a game.
Grant coming out of Syracuse was a raw talent. Not a lot of offense, crazy athlete, and was labeled as a “project” or an “upside” guy. Up until this season, I figured he is what he is. Until this season he was an above-average defender who can make an open 3 and run the break. This past offseason he wants to get paid, Denver doesn’t wanna give him the cash, so guess who takes him? That’s right, the Detroit Pistons.
Yeah the team who didn’t want to pay Christian Wood, agrees to give Jerami Grant $20 million a year. A month ago, that looked really bad, but Grant is making people eat their words. The Detroit roster is an absolute mess, and their record reflects it. The Pistons sit at just 1-6 on the season, their first-round draft pick has been underwhelming, they have I think 71 forwards? Their only bright spot is Jerami’s production. On a three-year, $ 60 million contract, If he keeps up the production, he’s earned it.
As far as player comparisons go, it’s two guys, Thad Young and Chris Webber. He’s got long arms and good size similar to young, who also can make a wide-open 3 and then attack a closeout and finish athletically. Great on the break, always a lob threat, has a two to three dribble limit, but that was Jerami Grant’s apex until this season. This year his offensive game has shades of Chris Webber when he was in Sacramento.
The way grant posts up in isolation looks identical to Webber in this old pinch post offense days from the early 2000s. He faces up, likes to drive right and give them the jump hook, and has a slow jump shot just like Webber. For Jerami and Chris, if they go up to shoot nobody yells “shooter!” but if left open, they’ll drain them. Jerami is more of a guard than he is a post player like Webber, but their offensive style is similar.