Could Jerami Grant actually be ‘untouchable’?
There is a lot of buzz about Jerami Grant being traded before the deadline. However, a new report claims the Detroit Pistons are not really fired up about getting rid of him.
There has been a lot of talk, like a ton, about Pistons forward Jerami Grant getting traded before the February 10 NBA trade deadline. However, there is a new report that Detroit might want to keep the 6-foot-9 Olympic gold medal winner around.
Marc Stein, a veteran NBA reporter, says in his latest newsletter (which we endorse you subscribe to, lots of good info) that Grant and Pistons general manager Troy Weaver are pretty tight, and Weaver is not looking to get rid of him.
(h/t to Clutch Points for summary)
In his Friday newsletter, Stein wrote:
"It remains unclear, for that matter, if even Grant gets moved. While there is no shortage of interest from contenders in the injured forward, Grant continues to have a staunch backer in Motown in Pistons GM Troy Weaver as he nears eligibility in the offseason for a four-year $112 million contract extension. Weaver is hardly the lone voice of influence in Detroit, where former player agent Arn Tellem wields considerable (and realistically the loudest) say as the Pistons’ vice chairman, but Weaver, remember, recommended Grant to legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim long before he was hired to lead Detroit’s front office. Hence the belief in various corners that he would prefer for Grant to stay."
Grant and Weaver are both from the Washington D.C. area, where Weaver got his start as an AAU coach. Grant and Weaver were each with the Oklahoma City Thunder together.
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They obviously know and trust each other. Weaver, a brand-new GM, went out on a limb to sign Grant, a role player his entire NBA career, to a three-year, $60 million contract last year. Grant returned the trust by becoming Detroit’s go-to player on offense, finishing second in voting for NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Grant’s contract is now considered a steal, although, at the time, Weaver was roundly criticized for vastly overpaying. Grant’s play made Weaver look good.