Syracuse Basketball: Jerami Grant makes Nuggets sneaky contenders

Former Syracuse basketball star Jerami Grant is on the move. Here’s why his addition makes the Denver Nuggets sneaky contenders in the west.

Jerami Grant has been an underrated player for a long time. During his time with the Syracuse basketball program, he spent two years on the hill but only started 29 games.

Then when he left school early he fell all the way to 39th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft via the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite those long odds, he turned an opportunity into a four-year deal, two years guaranteed with the city of brotherly love during NBA Summer League.

After two productive years in Philly where Jerami averaged just under 10 points per game and shot 40 percent from the field, he was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Ersan İlyasova and a future protected pick.

This is where Jerami started to realize his true potential.

His stats ballooned, he became more efficient as a scorer (averaging north of 50 percent from the field over the last two years) and even more impressive he shot 39 percent from long range with the Thunder.

Despite all the production coming off a career-year, things beyond Jerami’s control took place this offseason: Kawhi Leonard taking Paul George with him to the Los Angeles Clippers in an unprecedented power move.

PG13 signed a long-term deal with the Thunder a year ago and planned to stay there prior to a call from Leonard and OKC had no choice but to blow this thing up.

With that being the case the Thunder have a new identity. Last year OKC were contenders now they’re rebuilding.

A talented 25-year-old rising star in Grant no longer fit in those plans. On July 8, ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that OKC has acquired its’ sixth future first-rounder by dealing Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets.

There are still two years left on his three-year $40 million contract he signed with the Thunder back in 2018.

While the name “Jerami Grant” won’t cause sports shows across the nation to immediately break it down, it’s a great addition for a now sneaky title contender in the Denver Nuggets.

It’s actually a fit made in heaven. Not enough people are talking about Grant or the Nuggets, despite both coming off phenomenal years in 2018-19:

• Denver was the second-best team in the west (54-28) and nearly finished with the best record overall in the conference last season.
• A rising star in Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić is one of the best players in the NBA.

With the Golden State Warriors dynasty destroyed and Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers instead of the LA Lakers, the NBA title is completely up for grabs next season.

When you’re putting your power rankings together for next season, don’t count out the Denver Nuggets. With the Jerami Grant addition, this team is a dark horse contender for the NBA crown.