Jerami Grant, Pistons agree to three-year, $60M deal

The Pistons are signing veteran free agent Jerami Grant to a three-year contract worth $60M, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. The move will reunite Grant with new Pistons general manager Troy Weaver, who worked in Oklahoma City’s front office during the forward’s stint with the team.

Grant, 26, was acquired by the Nuggets during the 2019 offseason from the Thunder in exchange for a first-round pick. He came off the bench for most of the season in Denver, averaging 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds with a shooting line of .478/.389/.750 in 71 games (26.6 minutes). He entered the team’s starting lineup in the playoffs due to Will Barton‘s absence and played a key role in Denver’s run to the Western Finals.

Grant’s size, defensive versatility, and ability to knock down outside shots made him a popular free agent this fall, but it’s still a bit surprising that the rebuilding Pistons were the team to land him. Detroit entered this week with cap room but have made a series of moves eating into that space and will have re-open some of it to complete the Grant signing.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, will be on the lookout for frontcourt players after two of their key free agents — Grant and Mason Plumlee — agreed to deals with Detroit. According to Denver-area reporter T.J. McBride, the Nuggets offered to match Grant’s three-year, $60M offer from the Pistons, but he chose Detroit because he wants a bigger role.

Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports reports that JaMychal Green and Marcus Morris are among the power forwards Denver is eyeing. The team also still reportedly has interest in retaining big man Paul Millsap.