When the Detroit Pistons made Monty Williams the highest paid coach in the NBA, it was a sign that the time to start winning is now.
That doesn’t mean the Pistons are going to go “all in” on a trade, but this is the first offseason in Troy Weaver’s tenure when he is expected to put a winning roster on the floor.
The most likely routes to that improvement will come with the 5th pick in the draft (whether they use it or trade it) and in free agency, where the Detroit Pistons will have upwards of $30 million in cap space to spend.
James Edwards III of The Athletic (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) thinks the Pistons will likely make their biggest splash in free agency and offered up a couple of names.
"“The Pistons will likely look to make its biggest addition in free agency — hello, Jerami Grant and Cam Johnson. I could also see them using the No. 5 pick and/or Bojan Bogdanovic to make improvements to the roster. Detroit has options for the first time in a long time, and that’s always the first sign of a potential healthy organization.”"
Cam Johnson and Jerami Grant are both names we’ve brought up as possibilities in free agency, but which one would be the better fit? Which one would be easier to obtain?
Let’s start with the money.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Cam Johnson or Jerami Grant?
The Money
If the Detroit Pistons want to land either of these players in free agency, they are going to have to spend big bucks to do it.
Jerami Grant is an unrestricted free agent, and after having another very good season, he will have suitors. You can expect him to get a raise this summer and end up signing a deal in the 4 year/$120 million range at least.
With so few quality free-agent forwards on the market, and Grant arguably the best of the lot, he’s going to get paid. He already turned down a massive extension offer from Portland, so don’t expect Detroit to get any discounts.
Even at that cost, Grant is more obtainable than Cam Johnson, who is just a restricted free agent, meaning Brooklyn can match any offer. He’s not likely to get as much as Grant, but the Nets aren’t likely to just let him walk after he was one of the central players in the Kevin Durant trade.
Expect Brooklyn to match almost any offer, which makes Grant more obtainable even though he’ll probably end up making more money.
Advantage: Grant
Detroit Pistons free agency: Cam Johnson or Jerami Grant?
The Skills
Both of these players are big, two-way forwards who can play either spot.
When it comes to offense, both can hit 3-point shots at a high clip, as both made just over 40 percent this past season on a similar number of attempts per game.
The biggest difference between the two is that Grant is much better at creating his own shot and can be a primary facilitator at times. Even though he started to defer more at the end of his time with Detroit, and certainly when he was with Portland, that’s something he has in his bag, which could be important if the Pistons were to suffer another injury.
Grant is also the better defender, as he can handle both forward spots with his length, though Johnson is not a traffic cone by any means. Johnson does average more steals, but Grant is a better weak side shot blocker and can really cover a lot of ground on the perimeter or interior with his winspan.
Johnson has been the better 3-point shooter for his career, but Grant was very good last season playing off the ball alongside Damian Lillard.
Grant’s playmaking ability sets him apart on offense and he is the better defender, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he is the superior all-around player.
Advantage: Grant
Detroit Pistons free agency: Cam Johnson or Jerami Grant?
The Fit
With both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to make plays and facilitate the offense, the Detroit Pistons will be looking for wings with strong catch-and-shoot numbers, and both of these guys have them.
Johnson shot 38.4 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-point shots this past season and Grant hit 39.3 of his on almost the same number of attempts per game, so there is no real edge here.
Grant’s playmaking ability might make him more desirable, especially given the injury woes the Pistons have had the last few seasons.
Speaking of injuries, both players have had them, though Grant has been more reliable overall. Johnson played just 42 games this season and has never played more than 66 games in a season in his career.
Grant was pretty much an Iron Man before coming to Detroit, where he missed a lot of games due to end of the season tank injuries that he would have played through if the team were actually trying to win games.
However, Grant is two years older, which is really the only area where Johnson might have an advantage. But both are still in their late 20’s, so the Pistons would be getting a big chunk of their prime. Grant’s next contract will likely take him to age 32, while Johnson will be 30.
The Detroit Pistons also have a level of comfort and familiarity with Grant, who has a great relationship with GM Troy Weaver and really seemed to have liked his time in Detroit.
There are pros and cons to either of these players, but when you factor in obtainability, skill and fit, Grant has an edge.
Advantage: Jerami Grant