Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Jerami Grant team option looms as free agency nears

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Apr 12, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) warms up prior to the game against the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) warms up prior to the game against the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Jerami Grant is one of five OKC Thunder players who could enter free agency this week depending on whether Sam Presti exercises his team option.

Sam Presti has a big decision to make with regard to Jerami Grant in the next few days. With four other players slated for free agency Grant could join them depending on this decision. The other four players include unrestricted free agents Norris Cole, Nick Collison and Taj Gibson. While Andre Roberson is a restricted free agent.

Grant team option could factor:

Although it might not seem like a big deal the decision Sam Presti makes about Jerami Grant could play a big factor in the grand scheme of OKC Thunder negotiations this summer. Presti has until June 29th to make this decision. Should he exercise the option Grant will become an unrestricted free agent next summer and OKC will be locked in to pay Grant $1,524,305 this season. Given the current escalated contracts in today’s NBA and OKC’s limited cap space the initial thought process would be to exercise the option.

But, is that truly the wisest decision? Presti has given every indication Grant is viewed as part of the long term picture of the OKC Thunder. The feeling is Grant will continue to acclimate into Donovan’s system and show growth. At 23 and three seasons under his belt Grant hasn’t exactly blown away the competition. That said, there are signs he can become a vital component of the Thunder’s roster. His defense is definitely the area of his game best developed. On the current roster he joins Russell Westbrook (+4.7), Andre Roberson (+2.1) and Steven Adams (+1.2) as the only positive defensive plus-minus performers. Grant registered a plus +1.0  for his part.

Pay now or pay more later?

More from Thunder Free Agency

Conversely, if Presti chose not to exercise the option he would add Grant to OKC’s 2017 free agents.  True, this would mean Grant would make substantially more money, but it might be the smarter choice.  In this scenario Presti could do something he often prefers which is to lock in a young player for a longer period on a relatively economical contract.  Moreover, if Presti addressed Jerami Grant this summer he’ll likely be able to sign him to a cheaper contract then if he waits.

Why? Well if you assume Grant will improve (which is the overriding thinking) he’ll have better stats next year. And, what if Jerami Grant continues to improve from the perimeter? Realistically, this is the area Billy Donovan will want him to focus on.

Presti could extend Grant for somewhere between a low of $4.5 million and a high of $7.5 million per year to a term of 4 years. But, if he exercises the option and then Grant improves he’ll risk having to pay substantially more in the summer of 2018.

Ultimately the choice Presti makes will be telling. If the team truly believes Grant will improve it behooves them to not exercise the option and address him this summer.

Home/Thunder Free Agency