How the Nuggets lost Jerami Grant and how Denver can recover

Tim Connelly set the tone for what the Nuggets thought would be a long-term relationship with Jerami Grant at the forward’s introductory press conference in Denver 16 months ago.

“He’s a guy we’ve long coveted,” Connelly said. “… He’s going to be here for a long time.”
Denver held that belief throughout the regular season and last year’s playoffs, where Grant played a featured role for the Nuggets. Even in the hours leading up to the start of free agency Friday evening, the sense you got from the Nuggets was that they were confident they’d be able to retain Grant.

Grant agreed to a three-year $60 million deal with the Pistons Friday night. The news left the Nuggets stunned.

Grant’s decision didn’t have to do with money. Sources both within the Nuggets and throughout the league said Denver was willing to match Detroit’s offer of $20 million per year. But Grant chose to sign with the Pistons mostly due to his desire to be a more heavily featured offensive option. In Denver, Grant would have been at best the fourth option in the Nuggets’ starting five behind Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and either Will Barton or Michael Porter Jr, who’s set for an increased role on offense next season.

Other factors pulled Grant to Detroit too. Pistons general manager Troy Weaver was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s assistant general manager during the two seasons Grant spent with the franchise from 2016-19. Grant and Weaver also hail from the same D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area. A source also said Grant wanted a “change of scenery.”

In Detroit, he’ll undoubtedly get that. Grant will look to lead a rebuilding team that just selected three players in the first round of Wednesday’s draft.

To soften the blow of losing Grant, Denver pivoted to JaMychal Green and agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with the 30-year-old. Green is more of a true power forward than Grant and averaged 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Clippers last season. He’s a fine fallback option but won’t replace Grant’s versatility and ability to guard both threes and fours. Simply put, Green won’t be the Nuggets’ primary option on Kawhi Leonard in a playoff series.

No one on the open market will. Grant’s skill-set is incredibly hard to find. It’s why Denver scoured the league in the summer of 2019 for a player that could be a long-term complement to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr., and settled on Grant. Denver relinquished a first-round pick to Oklahoma City in the deal, thinking the 26-year-old, who could defend top wings and fill in the gaps around the Nuggets’ top offensive options, would be in Denver long-term. Those perfect role players are tough to find, especially for franchises like Denver.

In the wake of losing Grant, retaining Paul Millsap figures to be a priority. Mason Plumlee’s no longer an option after he agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal with the Pistons earlier Friday night. After losing their top wing defender, Denver could bring back Torrey Craig as well. If Denver looks to made a trade to add more offensive or defensive firepower, don’t be surprised if Gary Harris is on the move.

There’s no way around it. The Nuggets were blindsided. Denver thought it was clearly in pole position to retain Grant until it wasn’t.

Losing Grant hurts, especially after a successful run to the Western Conference Finals. For a franchise that was continually trending upward over the last several seasons, this feels like it could potentially be the first step back the Nuggets take in quite a while.