Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant emerges as Philadelphia 76ers’ latest target

Just when it seemed like all of the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason targets were off the table, a new one has emerged.

According to a report by Zach Lowe of ESPN, there are rumors that former 76er/Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant could be a trade target for Philadelphia.

“People have whispered Brandon Ingram, people have whispered Jerami Grant, neither of those are as exciting to me as Paul George. I don’t know what the hell is gonna happen here but we’re gonna get some clarity there on Saturday…”

Jerami Grant’s career in retrospective

Jerami Grant started with the 76ers during the “Process” era, played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, and found success with the Detroit Pistons, finishing second in Most Improved Player award voting in the 2020-2021 season.

In the 2020-2021 season, Jerami Grant’s scoring average almost doubled from 12.0 to 22.3 points per game. His three-point shooting also improved, as he made 37.2% of his attempts on 5.7 nightly tries, both career highs for him at that point.

Sixers #39- Jerami Grant, F (2014-17)

– Drafted in 2014 (Round 2: Pick 39)
– 144 Games, 8.2 PPG, 3.9 REB, 1.9 AST

pic.twitter.com/rbfx2aduUs

— Philly Sports By Number (@philly_number) September 9, 2023

Grant was traded to the Trail Blazers in 2022 for draft picks. He became the team’s third option behind Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons, excelling as their top defender assigned to guard the opposing team’s best player.

Following the trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, Jerami Grant was one of the many veterans who struggled with the Trail Blazers as they finished last in the Western Conference with a 21-61 record.

In 54 games, Jerami Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He had a 57.3% true-shooting percentage (0.7% below NBA average) and made 40.1% of his perimeter shots (on 5.1 attempts per game).

How Jerami Grant will fit on 76ers

Over the past few years, Jerami Grant has established himself as a top-notch forward with skills on both ends of the court. He has flown under the radar due to playing for teams with limited success in winning.

Regardless, Grant would be a perfect fit at the three or four position alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. His ability to space the floor would provide Embiid and Maxey with a reliable option to pass the ball to the weak-side corner when double-teamed at the rim, thus boosting Grant’s efficiency.

Another aspect of Grant’s game is his athleticism, enabling him to drive to the rim, finish forcefully, push the pace in transition, and block shots.

As mentioned before, Grant is an excellent defender who can guard the opponent’s best wing or forward and can also switch on screens when necessary. His athleticism and two-way capabilities make him a great third option for the 76ers.

if Jerami Grant gets traded, his new team is getting a valuable floor spacing wing that can flip an entire game with his 3 point shooting:

– 42% on catch and shoot 3s this year
– 45% in the corner
– 96th percentile on spot ups
– no dip 3 aura boost
– 86th percentile off screens pic.twitter.com/WpiVuU3qnU

— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) June 26, 2024

The main downsides of his game are his limited playmaking abilities and poor rebounding as a forward. Jerami Grant is primarily focused on scoring, aiming to drive to the rim or spot up from the perimeter, but he can also assist his teammates occasionally.

Primarily a power forward, Jerami Grant, at 6’ 7, has averaged only 4.0 rebounds per game throughout his career. The 76ers witnessed the impact of their lack of front-court size in the playoffs against the New York Knicks this past season.

However, the downside of Jerami Grant is the large multi-year contract he signed with Portland in 2023. In an effort to retain Damian Lillard and compete immediately, the Trail Blazers inked Grant to a five-year deal worth $160 million. Grant, who will be 30 next season, is set to earn $29.8 million in the 2024-2025 season.

Whether it’s Paul George, OG Anunoby, or Jerami Grant, each of these potential offseason targets for the 76ers has both strong positives and significant drawbacks. For Grant, his increasingly high contract payments seem to overshadow his potential as a great fit for Philadelphia.

Mandatory Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE (photo by Cameron Browne)