Should the Minnesota Timberwolves trade for Jerami Grant?
Jerami Grant is one of the hottest commodities ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, but should the Minnesota Timberwolves look to acquire him?
Grant is only 27 years old, but he’s bounced around the league since being drafted in 2014. He’s played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and is currently with the Detroit Pistons.
This is not the first, and it won’t be the last time Timberwolves fans discuss the idea of Grant playing in Minnesota. He had a really good thing in Denver, but he wanted a bigger role, which is why he went to Detroit. You have to give him credit, he earned his money and surprised many NBA fans with how good he truly is.
One thing is clear, Grant is not a No. 1 and would likely be a third options on a championship team.
Since joining the Pistons, he’s averaged 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals per game. He’s also shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 34.4 from 3.
He was a lot more efficient in Denver, but his volume has gone up with the Pistons. If the Timberwolves were to trade for him, we could expect him to go back to his “Nuggets” role.
That’s exactly what this team needs.
The Timberwolves already have three viable scoring option in D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Throw Grant in the mix, and you have four players that can give you 20 any given night.
Minnesota needs more size, and at 6-foot-8, Grant can be that option at small forward.
Potential starting lineup:
- PG: D’Angelo Russell
- SG: Anthony Edwards
- SF: Jerami Grant
- PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
- C: Karl-Anthony Towns
If the Timberwolves were to trade for Grant, he would be added to the starting lineup. You could make the case for Vanderbilt off the bench, but he’s earned the right to start. Plus, I think he could do serious damage in an offense-heavy lineup.
Defensively, Grant isn’t a liability, but he’s not the best defender on the floor. Minnesota’s defense will take a dip if they have to remove Patrick Beverley or Vanderbilt from the starting five.
What would it cost the Timberwolves to trade for Grant?
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Pistons are asking for two first-round picks or a first and a high-upside young player. Zach Lowe recently spoke on his podcast about Grant, and he believes Detroit will not deal him.
If the Timberwolves wanted to execute this trade, they’d have to find a third team to get involved. Grant is making about $20 million a season, and they’re too close to the luxury tax to take in that kind of money. Detroit would not be interested in Malik Beasley, as he does not fit their timeline.
At the end of the day, it would cost Minnesota at least two firsts and Beasley, or a first, Jaden McDaniels and Beasley.
Is it worth it? Probably not.
The Timberwolves should call Detroit at the very least, but it’ll likely be too steep of a price.
