The Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in 17 games, and they did it without leading scorer Jerami Grant.
Grant has been the subject of trade rumors for weeks, even after going out with a thumb injury, and many think he’ll be one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline.
I have been on the fence about trading Jerami Grant, as I really love his attitude, the way he plays and the fact that he chose to come to Detroit, a city that doesn’t lure a lot of free agents.
Grant has bought into the Pistons’ rebuild and been a solid veteran presence who has said and done all of the right things since joining the Detroit Pistons.
There are pros and cons of signing him to a long-term deal, but after the last 10 games without him, it seems almost inevitable that a trade is coming.
Here are some of the reasons that a Jerami Grant trade is probably happening.
Saddiq Bey and Hamidou Diallo have played well without Jerami Grant
It’s hard to ignore what Saddiq Bey and Hamidou Diallo have been doing for the Detroit Pistons over the last ten games.
Bey is playing like an All-Star, and Diallo adds an element of rebounding and athleticism that Jerami Grant does not.
Bey has been thriving playing at power forward, which might be his natural position and Diallo has given the Pistons a spark that they didn’t have early in the season when he was on the bench.
Both of these players had slow starts to the season but have blown up with increased reps and opportunity, which they are not going to get with Jerami Grant in the lineup.
Earlier in the season, trading Grant seemed like the Pistons would be giving up one of their only real NBA players, but the way Bey and Diallo are playing, Detroit should feel a lot more comfortable moving forward.
I don’t think this play is a fluke, as things have opened up for the Pistons over the last 10 games.
The Detroit Pistons’ offense flows better without Jerami Grant
I don’t think the Pistons are a better team without Grant, and it’s not like they’ve exploded offensively as a team without him, but if you’ve been watching the games, the offense just seems different in his absence.
The Pistons are scoring more overall, bumping up nearly five points per game as a team without Grant.
Not only that, but the ball movement and overall flow of the offense has been a lot better, as Grant can be a ball stopper and the Detroit Pistons were often relying on him to get points in isolation when the offense stalled.
The Bucks could hardly keep up with the young Pistons last night and you never really knew who was going to get the shot, as no one was holding the ball and everyone was getting involved.
This is not only WAY more fun to watch, but you don’t have players running around wondering when or if they are going to touch the ball again.
Detroit is playing with better pace, getting more fast break points and are have had a more balanced attack overall even though they are still struggling to consistently hit shots.
As a fan, this is the kind of basketball I like to watch.
I am not saying Jerami Grant can’t be a part of such an offense, but it’s easy for the Pistons to revert to iso-ball when he is out there, which doesn’t take advantage of one of the things they do well, which is pass the ball.
The Detroit Pistons are Cade Cunningham’s team moving forward
Part of the reason Jerami Grant chose the Pistons is that he wanted a bigger role. He wasn’t happy being the 3rd or 4th option on Denver and wanted to show he had more as a player, and he has, which is why so many teams are interested in trading for him.
Last season that was fine, as the Pistons didn’t have any other options, but after drafting Cade Cunningham, those days are over, and Grant is once again going to be relegated to playing a complementary role.
Cunningham is a playmaker who can score, but he loves to set up teammates even more. His assist numbers have jumped up since Jerami Grant went out with injury and the Pistons are taking advantage of his elite passing ability.
Ultimately, Cade is going to have the ball in his hands a lot and going to be the guy initiating the offense. That doesn’t work if Grant is stopping the ball and everyone is standing around watching him work in isolation.
Cade needs to be surrounded with guys who cut to the rim, bigs who can pop or roll and guys who can hit spot-up jumpers, not players who dribble the life out of the ball.
I don’t want this to sound like I don’t like or appreciate what Jerami Grant has done for the Pistons, because I do, but the fit with Cade Cunningham is questionable and it’s clear Detroit will be building around the number one pick.
If the Pistons do trade Jerami Grant, I am certain they will try to send him to the best possible situation for him to thrive, and it’s now looking like that move is inevitable.