The Denver Nuggets’ new acquisition, Jerami Grant, is expected to significantly boost the squad, but in which role will he contribute?
The Denver Nuggets‘ lone trade in July was a wise one, as they swapped their 2020 first-rounder for Jerami Grant, a tantalizing mesh of size (6’9”), wingspan (7’3″), athleticism and two-way talent.
A savvy defender, Grant uses his height and speed to effectively guard the 2 through 4 slots, evidenced by his impressive 105.6 defensive rating last year with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
Offensively, he averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game while knocking down 39.2 percent from deep, a mark that would’ve led Denver’s starters last season. He looked the part of a skilled, athletic bucket-getter.
Sounds like the perfect player, right? Especially considering he’s a combo forward who provides two-way excellence at either the 3 or 4-slot. However …
Most signs point to Grant playing power forward, a position already secured by Paul Millsap and his gargantuan $30.4 million totebag.
Does Denver want its newest long-term asset, a young stud with a 2020-21 player option, coming off the pine after starting 77 games with the Thunder last season? This sounds like a great reason for him to opt out and test the market next summer.
Because when push comes to shove, no NBA player loves returning to the bench after starting the prior year, regardless of how high-character he is rumored to be. But alas, the sources aren’t favorable.
Per the Denver Nuggets media relations, head coach Michael Malone referred to Grant as a “big man,” an almost-blatant admission as to which forward slot he’ll play.
Ryan Blackburn of Denver Stiffs identified Grant as the Nuggets’ power forward of the future in his trade summary. In light of Malone’s earlier quote, he could be right to predict Grant will indeed play the 4-slot.
So assuming these notions are correct, now the question becomes why. Why would the Nuggets identify a long-term piece, a starter they love by all accounts, and then banish him to the bench one year before he can leave?
Why wouldn’t they utilize Grant’s defensive skill, length and speed at the starting 3-spot, plugging the leak that’s allowed Kevin Durant to shoot 69.8 percent in his past three matchups against Denver?
Why not capitalize on Grant’s shooting to spread the floor from the wing and punish Jokic double-teams, as Grant’s 40.3 3-point percentage in 77 starts cannot be ignored?
ESPN.com lists Grant as a small forward and he entered the league as a 3. Fast forward to today, he still maintains the stylistic tools to be effective in either forward spot. He’s an above average shooter, and defends better than most small forwards in the game.
But Denver will once again force Will Barton‘s square peg into the starting 3-hole, passing on a better option who would bolster both sides of the court.
Because Grant played power forward recently with OKC, and once a 4, always a 4…all that stubborn talk.
How about a better approach? Let’s examine necessary components for Denver’s starting small forward, and determine if Grant fills the needs.
Desired components for Denver’s starting small forward:
- A big defender who can body the likes of Kevin Durant and Paul George: Check.
- A floor-spacer to knock down 3’s and punish defenses for doubling Jokic: Check.
- Defensive speed to cover quick opposing wings, or even some 2-guards: Check.
- An athletic cutter and finisher who can take Jokic dimes and finish with the flush: Check.
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck …
When examining Denver’s needs at small forward, Grant actually exceeds all requirements. This decision shouldn’t be influenced by previous team’s rotations.
And what do positions even mean in today’s NBA?
The Nuggets’ center Jokic is the squad’s primary facilitator, which is hardly a traditional style. Jamal Murray is among the team’s best scorers as a point guard, another factor that bucks typical positioning.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 6’11” dynamo who’s played point guard before. LeBron James may assume the same role for the Los Angeles Lakers … and he’s a 6’8” runaway Hummer.
Positions are less important in today’s NBA, as versatility and congruency have taken center stage. Grant needs to fill Denver’s fifth starter spot because he’s the best fit, simple as that.
Must the Nuggets deny Grant the chance to fill their biggest weakness and push them into contention due to a previous classification, especially in the era of versatility? Denver appears to be creating its own obstacle, hindering success in a stubborn internal manner.
These talks may be premature, as no decision had been carved into stone. But the way Malone referred to Grant as a “big man” was discouraging, and seemed to be telling in his role for the Nuggets.
Will Grant be pigeonholed into his past position, one that leads to his reduced minutes and allows stylistic issues to continue at Denver’s starting 3-spot? Or will he have the chance to excel where the Nuggets need him most?