Detroit Pistons: Pros and cons of signing Jerami Grant long-term

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly trying to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension to keep forward Jerami Grant with the team.

This was first reported by James Edwards III at The Athletic:

I think this is great news for the Detroit Pistons and Jerami Grant, who have had a mutually beneficial relationship so far, one that could continue for the entirety of his prime.

Grant currently has one of the best contracts in the NBA, especially when you compare it to some of the other ridiculous deals that were handed out this summer (I’m looking at you Lonzo Ball and Aaron Gordon).

In fact, if you were to re-grade the Grant signing, Troy Weaver would be taking home A pluses all around.

But what about the future? Is Jerami Grant a guy the Detroit Pistons could regret signing to a long-term deal? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons when it comes to player development, salary and team culture.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant and the development of the young players

Pro: Jerami Grant is exactly the type of player the Detroit Pistons are trying to build around. He is tough and hard working, a guy with a non-stop motor who sets an example on the court with his hustle and team play.

He will be a great mentor to the young players on the Pistons’ roster, and the best part is that he is not blocking anyone. Now that they have traded Sekou Doumbouya, the Pistons don’t have a young player at his position, so Grant is not taking anyone’s developmental minutes.

Even if the Pistons did have a young power forward, Grant can play all over the place, with versatility that will fit with just about any group the Pistons want to run out there.

Con: The only con I can think of is that Jerami Grant led the team in usage last season and could take shots from young players. But Grant is a team guy, so as some of these youngsters are ready to assume bigger roles, his usage will go down and he will defer to guys like Cade Cunniningham

Verdict: Sign him now! There is literally no downside to having Jerami Grant long-term when it comes to player development. He is an asset, a great teammate and is not taking minutes from anyone.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant and the salary cap

Pro: Jerami Grant is currently on one of the best value contracts in the league. Some fans questioned Troy Weaver when he gave Grant a 3 year/$60 million deal, as he had really been a role player up until last season, but he proved he can be far more.

If the Pistons were to extend Grant and fold his remaining years into the new deal, he would likely be on a similar annual salary, which is more or less minimum wage for an impact player in the NBA.

As the salary cap continues to grow, Grant’s deal will look even better, and he could be a huge bargain in 3-4 years when even mediocre players are making $20 million a season.

Con: If Jerami Grant’s production started to plummet as he ages, does Detroit really want to be on the hook for big money just as their young players are extension eligible? The best part of Grant’s current deal is that it will be completed at the same time the second-year players (Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes) are first eligible for their rookie extensions.

If Bey or Stewart blow up in the next two seasons, they could command upwards of $15 million per season each, which might make it difficult to keep both of them (and prepare for Cade’s max extension) if the Pistons are already paying an aging Grant 20+ million a season.

Verdict: Having too many good players is a problem the Detroit Pistons have been waiting to have for a long time. Even if Grant isn’t as good in the next few seasons, he is still going to be a valuable contributor who is on a team-friendly deal that would be very easy to trade if the Pistons find they are pressed by the cap. As long as the Pistons don’t give him a ridiculous extension (think Blake Griffin), then I see no downside to the cap, as they will have space to have Grant and still keep all of their guys. If not, he’d be easy to trade and could bring back a haul that will give the Pistons future assets. Sign away!

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant has helped change the culture in Detroit

Pro: Jerami Grant is a hardworking professional who CHOSE to come to Detroit. Not many free agents make this choice, so he represents a big first step in establishing a sustainable winning culture in Detroit.

Grant is a respected veteran who just played on Team USA in the Olympics and can sell the culture of the city to other players. He’s the type of unselfish player that other guys like to run with, so he is a selling point when the team is trying to acquire free agents in the future or convince their own guys to stay.

Jerami Grant is the perfect building block, as he takes nothing off the table and puts plenty on it, and he and Cade Cunningham will be key in landing star players in the future.

Con: None. There is not a single downside to signing Jerami Grant long term when it comes to team culture. He is a humble and unselfish teammate who will fit in and be an asset.

Verdict: Re-sign this man today!

It’s hard to see much downside to re-signing Jerami Grant for the rest of his prime and beyond, as he is the type of player who makes everyone better and will be an ambassador for the city of Detroit.

I hope that Jerami Grant finishes his career with the Detroit Pistons and is a big part of leading the team into a new era of success.