NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft’s first round

2014 NBA Redraft: 5. Jerami Grant, Utah Jazz

How many players over the last few years have done more to alter their career arc than Jerami Grant? The answer can’t be many, a testament to a level of productivity that continues to trend upward.

Grant was drafted into the Process 76ers. Though having shown flashes of potential in Philly, his breakout season came as a member of the OKC Thunder. He started 77 games in 2018-19 and took his new role in stride by averaging career-highs, legitimizing himself as a quality NBA pro.

The Nuggets didn’t offer Grant the chance to pump his stats. They simply gave him the platform to perform on some of the biggest stages in basketball. Throughout Denver’s surprising 2020 playoff run, Grant stood out for his defense on some of the game’s best wings with some offensive moments that hinted at untapped potential.

In a move that surprised many, Grant sought to unlock that potential by leaving a quasi-contender in Denver to serve as the go-to guy in Detroit.

There were doubts about whether a career complementary piece could function in such a high-usage role. Grant has so far answered those questions by averaging more than 20 points a game. Considering the depths he came from as a second-round pick, who knows what type of progression lies ahead?