Breaking Down Jerian Grant’s Role With The New York Knicks

Entering the 2015 NBA Draft, there were rumblings the New York Knicks could possibly trade their lottery pick in order to move down the draft board. Instead, they added to their No. 4 pick by trading Tim Hardaway Jr. for play-making Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant, selected 19th overall by the Washington Wizards.

Even among difficult to please Knick fans, this was considered a win for the organization. The Knicks, so putrid on both ends of the floor last season, they at times feel akin to a creaky house in need of being stripped to its frame. The team’s needs are so extensive and yet roughly able to be boiled down to two things: players and talent. They were literally short on both last season.

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As a playmaker and an offensive trigger, Grant stands at 6-foot-5 (although he measured a tad taller than 6’4’’ with shoes at the draft combine) and comes in at right about 200 pounds. He scores, breaks down defenses, understands schemes, facilitates an offense, is able to jump passing lanes and already has significant experience performing in key moments and on big stages.

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Knicks president Phil Jackson has historically loved plugging bigger guards into the triangle offense. It’s pretty easy to see why considering the point guard in the triangle benefits greatly from seeing over the defense in facilitating the flow and direction of movement.

Grant should have the size advantage in matchups on most nights. He measured a 6’7.5’’ wingspan at the combine (plenty for his position) and has the quickness and agility to get by his defender in most cases. It’s at this point where, with a comfortable grip on the ball, he’s able to slice a defense with passes to open shooters, or slither his way to the rim.

At Notre Dame last season, as a fifth-year senior, he averaged 16.5 points, 6.6 assists, three rebounds and 1.7 steals. All while he was the focal point of an offense heavily predicated on the pick-and-roll. Although he will need to tweak his shot selection at the next level, Grant is comfortable operating off either isolation sets or high screens.

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He figures to do much of the same on a Knicks team that should be able to use him immediately from day 1. Grant would benefit immensely if the team is able to plug the roster with reliable shooters and slashers this summer, something he used to his advantage on a Fighting Irish team that was one of the more high powered offenses in the country last year.

“I think it’s a great fit,” Irish coach Mike Brey told the New York Post. “To play in Phil’s system, you have to have a high basketball IQ and feel for the game. Jerian Grant has the highest basketball IQ and is the most polished player in this draft.”

In a league where point-guard play has skyrocketed, the Knicks have regressed in the area in recent years.

The team will likely have Grant run the point. But given his size and versatile skill set, its fathomable the Knicks will also use him as a hybrid guard, allowing him to play off the ball at times. While in Chicago for the combine, Grant said his preferred position at the next level is point guard.

He has a natural feel for the position and has shown to be capable of shouldering the responsibility that comes with it.

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As an above average ball handler, he will be asked to initiate a stagnant Knicks offense. The team should be confident considering the load Grant was accustomed to carrying in college.

At Notre Dame, his usage rate increased from 20.6 percent his freshman season to 24.2 percent last year, per basketball-reference., which makes even more impressive his assist-turnover ratio—just north of 3/1—good for ninth-best in the country.

Concerns loom whether his game will thrive at the next level with some labeling him prosaic athletically with a slight frame.

Over at Draft Express, his propensity for steals is highlighted but also that he’s “incredibly underwhelming on the glass for a player his size.” He pulled down three rebounds per game—certainly less than what you would expect from your 6’5’’ player. But some of that is undoubtedly a byproduct of his positioning on the floor rather than a judgment on his effort or defensive dexterity.

At Notre Dame, Grant was incredibly efficient finishing in the paint. In fact, once inside the three-point line, the majority of his conversions were right at the rim. Noticeably absent is a reliable mid-range game, something that will need to be addressed at the next level where he will be forced to shoot over longer, more physical defenders.

Grant is a versatile guard with distinct playmaking ability and size. Realistically the Knicks still have a long way to go to become relevant, but securing a player of Grant’s qualities is a significant step and a signal the organization is headed in the right direction.

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