Oklahoma City Thunder: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Alec Liebsch
Jerami Grant trade
Once Paul George was gone, it was only a matter of time before other attractive pieces got moved. Jerami Grant certainly fits that bill as an uber-athletic, multi-positional defender, and the Denver Nuggets were smart for making such an addition.
The trade return here was much simpler, as the Oklahoma City Thunder received a 2020 first-round pick from Denver. The Nuggets are slated to be among the NBA’s elite, so that pick will likely fall in the late 20s, but it’s a first-round pick nonetheless.
Grant has a player option for 2020-21, which he will most certainly opt out of. The (now) rebuilding Thunder were definitely not going to pay his next contract, so it was smart to offload him for draft compensation.
The Nuggets make out great on this deal, as they receive a perfect frontcourt fit next to Nikola Jokic. Grant can cover for him defensively, make threes off the catch, and be a slashing threat to receive dimes for lobs and easy layups.
Though Grant is still somewhat young and good, the Thunder had no use for him after trading George. Their goal from then on was to offload veterans, and they did so shrewdly.