Jerami Grant had a breakout season for the Detroit Pistons last year and placed himself among the best power forwards in the Eastern Conference.
But the East is loaded at the position, with at least three players who are MVP candidates heading into the season, including the two frontrunners for the award.
Every single team in the East has as guy who is already established or has high-ceiling talent, so it’s not even easy to crack the top-5 in such a loaded group.
Here are the top power forwards in the Eastern Conference and where Jerami Grant ranks among them.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking Eastern Conference power forwards #15-12
#15 Franz Wagner: Orlando Magic
The lower part of this list is full of talented guys who have been drafted recently or within the last two seasons, including Wagner.
I think people are sleeping on Wagner, who is already a good playmaker who can shoot and defend, but like I said, this is a talented group.
#14 Rui Hachimura: Washington Wizards
Hachimura has proven himself to be a solid role player for the Wizards who can score from inside and grab boards.
Whether or not he ever becomes more than that will probably rely on his shot, which improved last season but still wasn’t impressive.
#13 PJ Tucker: Miami Heat
The old man on the list, PJ Tucker is definitely in the twilight of his career, but he can still defend just about anyone for short bursts and knock down 3-point shots. He’ll be a nice veteran addition to the Miami Heat.
#12 Patrick Williams: Chicago Bulls
Williams didn’t put it all together last season but all of the signs are there. He is a plus athlete who is still learning the game and projects as a guy who is going to be a great two-way player.
His long-range shot was much better than advertised and he is primed to have a big second season for the Bulls.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking Eastern Conference power forwards #11-8
#11 PJ Washington: Charlotte Hornets
I think Washington is low-key underrated, as he put up 12.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last season to go along with 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 38.6 percent from long range.
He’s not a guy that gets a ton of press, but Washington is quietly does a lot of things for the Hornets on both ends.
#10 Evan Mobley or Kevin Love: Cleveland Cavaliers
I have no earthly idea what the Cavaliers are going to do with all of the centers and power forwards they have or whether they consider either of these guys forwards at this point in their respective careers.
Mobley has the potential to be a Chris Bosh type power forward who blocks shots and can score from all over and we know what Kevin Love is all about as he enters his 75th season in Cleveland (it seems like it at least).
This one may be too high but I love Mobley’s potential as a two-way big.
#9 Tobias Harris: Philadelphia 76ers
Former Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris is still getting it done. To me, Harris will always be known as a guy who was part of one of the Pistons’ worst decisions, which was trading for Blake Griffin.
Harris is still plugging along while Blake is chasing rings as a role player with the Nets.
Harris had one of his best seasons for the 76ers last year, scoring just under 20 per game and grabbing 6.8 rebounds to go along with 3.5 assists per game. Harris is keeping the mid-range game alive and is very good at it.
#8 John Collins: Atlanta Hawks
The fact that Collins barely cracked the top-10 shows you just how good and deep this position is in the East, as Collins is very good.
He has already established himself as one of the best young forwards in the NBA, though his numbers dipped a little last season.
He still scored 17.6 points and grabbed 7.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 40 percent from deep, enough to earn him a max extension to stay in Atlanta. He has the talent to climb up this list by the end of the season.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking Eastern Conference power forwards #7-4
#7 Jerami Grant: Detroit Pistons
Jerami Grant is a very good two-way player who blew up for the Pistons in an expanded role last season.
He went from a guy some in the national media were questioning to one who was in just about every trade rumor at the deadline after teams realized his potential value.
After averaging over 22 per game last season, the Pistons might be ready to offer him a long-term deal to keep him in Detroit, and I hope they do.
#6 Pascal Siakam: Toronto Raptors
Siakam took a small step back last season and dropped to 21.4 points per game to go with 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
He keeps getting better as a playmaker, but still needs to improve his 3-point shot, which got worse last season. Siakam may have to miss time with injury again next season, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses.
#5 Domantas Sabonis: Indiana Pacers
Domantas Sabonis is one of those overlooked bigs who go out and give you 20/10 every night and don’t get much attention.
Sabonis isn’t flashy but he gets the job done and averaged 20.3 points and 12 rebounds while swiping 1.2 steals last season. Oh, did I mention he is a plus playmaker who averages 6.7 assists per game?
Sabonis might be the most underrated player in the NBA.
#4 Julius Randle: New York Knicks
Randle is another guy who blew up last season in an expanded role, taking home the Most Improved Player award after a huge season for the Knicks in which he scored 24.1 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished six assists per game.
Randle did this by improving his 3-point shooting, so his versatility on offense is what separates him from a guy like Sabonis, who is not an efficient 3-level scorer like Randle.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking Eastern Conference power forwards #3-1
#3 Jayson Tatum: Boston Celtics
As much as I hate the Celtics, I have to admit that Tatum is a real one.
He’s still only 22-years-old and averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals, establishing himself as one of the best young players in the game.
He has also proven he can get it done in big games, so Tatum is one of the handful of guys in the league that any team would love to build their franchise around. He’ll be a fringe-MVP candidate this season and I wouldn’t be shocked if he won a couple of them before his career is over.
#2: Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets
This one could go either way and putting Durant #2 at anything just feels wrong. Durant is one of the best scorers of all time and has evolved into a plus defender as well.
He has already won a ring and an MVP and would like to add another of each this season and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he does. The only thing stopping him will be the next guy.
#1: Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Bucks
You could definitely argue Durant here or even that the two should share the #1 spot, but for now Giannis has the title, so he gets the spoils.
What can you say about the guy other than that he is already one of the best to ever play the game and a one-man wrecking crew on both ends?
As much as people want to nit-pick his game, no one can stop him and if he ever does add a 3-point shot to his game, it’s over for the league.