The Detroit Pistons got one of the steals of the offseason when they signed free agent Jerami Grant.
He has been better than even the most optimistic supporters expected and the Pistons finally look like they have a star to build around.
Grant wants to be in Detroit, which is a trait nearly as important as his talent, as it isn’t always easy to get free agents to come to the Motor City.
Grant is pretty much everything Detroit could want from a centerpiece player, but is he untouchable a trade? It’s an interesting question.
First off, I do not think the Detroit Pistons would trade Jerami Grant or that they are trying to. But what if a team put a big offer on the table? Would they even consider it?
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT SUGGESTING THE PISTONS TRADE JERAMI GRANT
Detroit Pistons: Would Detroit consider trading Jerami Grant?
There are only a handful of truly “untouchable” players in the NBA. Grant is not there yet but I think his salary and production put him near that status.
You won’t find many players in the league in his salary range who put up better numbers than Grant and the ones that do are the “untouchables.”
Obviously, the Pistons have no need to move Grant but it’s fair to wonder what they could get and if they should consider it.
It’s possible that Grant’s contract will expire before the Pistons are good, so there is an argument for trading him while his value is sky high, especially if it means another chance at a top-five pick.
Imagine something like this is on the table:
Would the Detroit Pistons take a chance and move Grant for another shot at a top-5 pick in a loaded draft?
Here’s why they absolutely should not consider something like this and why they kind of should.
Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant is untouchable in a trade
The Detroit Pistons should not under any circumstances consider trading Jerami Grant.
Not only has he been a top-5 wing in the NBA since joining the Pistons but he actually wants to be here.
Grant has talked about why he chose Detroit over staying in Denver (PAID CONTENT), which immediately makes him more valuable than other players who might constantly be looking for the exit.
He’s a versatile wing who can score from all over and defend multiple positions. In other words, he’s the exact type of player you want to build around in today’s NBA.
The Pistons are already better than expected, so are we sure they won’t be good before Grant’s contract it up?
They have two more seasons after this one, the second of which will have Blake Griffin off the books.
If the Pistons continue to gel around Grant, they might be able to take the step into playoff contention next season, add another free agent when Blake is mercifully gone and actually be in the playoffs by his final season.
He’ll still only be 28-years-old, so the Pistons could re-sign him, effectively getting all of his prime years at pretty good value.
They’d be crazy to trade Jerami Grant!
Or would they?
Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant is not untouchable in a big trade
Here is a scenario for you:
Two years have passed and the Pistons are still not very good. Jerami Grant has continued to be excellent, making him a multiple time All-Star on a bad team.
He’s still putting up numbers, so the Pistons extend him with a maximum contract. Flash forward another three years and the Pistons are still bad, Jerami Grant is now making Blake Griffin money and the Pistons are right back where they started.
Here’s another scenario:
The Detroit Pistons get the Godfather offer from the Warriors and take it. They flip Wiggins for a couple of Plumlee-esque contracts, have a clean cap sheet and finish with the worst record in the league.
The lottery Gods are finally kind and the Pistons get the number one pick of their own and the number four pick from Minnesota (it’s top-3 protected).
The Detroit Pistons draft Cade Cunningham and Jonathan Kuminga. This is their starting lineup next season:
Cade Cunningham
Saddiq Bey
Jonathan Kuminga
Josh Jackson
Isaiah Stewart
You can arrange it however you want, take different players in the draft etc… but however you mix things up, it’s intriguing.
The Detroit Pistons’ could have one of the best young cores in the league with a couple of blue-chip prospects to go along with Bey, Stewart and Hayes.
It would be a calculated risk, as there is no guarantee of where the lottery balls will land, but you have to admit that the idea is exciting.
None of this is likely to happen but the conversation is an interesting one. At what point does a player become untouchable? Is Jerami Grant there?
It’s a fun debate.