Jerami Grant Staking Claim To Philadelphia 76ers 2016 Starting Role

After a successful 2015-2016 season, Jerami Grant is looking forward to a 2016 starting role for the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers season ended with the 6’8″ 210 small forward by the name of Jerami Grant playing in 77 games, and starting in 52. His minutes increased from 21.2 the previous year to 26.8 minutes per game, while his scoring jumped up to 9.7 points per game. After two seasons in the NBA, 22 year old Jerami Grant should feel confident.  His numbers, while not all star levels just yet, improved dramatically over his rookie season, with the exception of his 3pt shooting accuracy – which fell from 31.4% to a rather pedestrian 24.0% shooting.

But the name of Jerami Grant’s game is versatility.  Versatility is the name of the modern NBA game.  In a normal line-up, Grant is a defensively juggernaut at the small forward position.  But that is not to say that the young man can’t score.  He  can.  He can put up 18, 20, or even 21 points in a game.  He can start a fast break with a surprise rejection.

But due to his youth, he doesn’t do so consistently.  Youth will mature.  Peaks will become consistent.   He’s just finished his second NBA season.  Unless you are a superstar like Kevin Durant or LeBron James, you will like NOT make a ton of noise as a rookie small forward in this NBA.  Since his path is more of the norm, his NBA career began with more of a whisper of better things to come.

Next: The Path Most Chosen

The path most chosen

His first season, he scored just 6.3 points per game.  His just completed season was 9.7 points per game.  In the month of April 2016, he was on fire.  He averaged 14.9 points per game, shot 43.6% from the floor and an impressive 42.9% from three point distance.  On his current trajectory, those are the closest to his projected production in the 2016-2017 season.

The path is common with NBA players.  The rookie season is defining the role and earning the minutes on the court.  The second season is understanding the role and  the lineup.  Coaching staff and teammates play a vital role in the second season.

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By the third NBA season, it all starts to come together.   For Indiana Pacer’s small forward Paul George, it was not until his third season that things began to fall into place.  He did not suddenly become more accurate in his shooting, but rather he was asked to do more for the team.  His attempts in the 2012-2013 season (1176) were more than his first two seasons combined (1034).  That volume spike drove George’s points per game from 12.1 to 17.4 and placed him on the NBA map.

That same trajectory could very likely happen to Jerami Grant.  With  an anticipated arrival of Ben Simmons, ball distribution and transition basketball should improve.  Grant thrives in that type of system.  He’s athletic, has a very good burst of speed, fluidity, and makes highlight films with his crowd electrifying dunks.  In an improving transition game, his moves become a double threat: will he slash to the basket or simply pull up and shoot.   If he can build on the 42.9% trey shooting, his scoring will see a similar spike.

Next: The Build

The Build

The presumptive number one selection from the 2016 NBA draft is Ben Simmons.  He’s a rare talent, a big man body with the moves and mind of a point guard.   While there are weaknesses, the Philadelphia 76ers team is ultimately designed to elevate the game of the NBA rookie.  In fact, the Philadelphia 76ers own head coach, Brett Brown, knew Ben Simmons before anyone in the NBA.  It’s that comprehensive understanding of the athlete and the system which will become the keystone of this team.

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But that keystone does not a bridge make, the piece of the new roster who is probably MOST anticipated in the two year Lion King Joel Embiid.  Standing tall at well over 7′ now (rumored to be 7’3″ and still growing), his athleticism actually exceeded his untrained body’s ability to start stop twist turn and move, leading to both back and foot injuries that not only required medical intervention, but a complete retraining to use that athleticism in a positive and productive manner based on his physical strengths and limitations.

The team will most certainly be addressing the back court.  But with all of the chatter, the sites of the fans at virtually every turn is to seek the biggest baddest most upsided and expensive production from each and every position.

It can’t happen.  The very nature of the NBA salary cap forces budgeting, compromises.  If the team pushes for a free agent and a max contract, that means money is obligated towards one instead of towards several.  That blending of elites and good role players is one of the most challenging facets of a championship team.  And so, the team must commit to young players who are not “quite there” and believe they will complete the journey.  It’s that faith in players from the team that we, as fans, debate and fall short of frequently.

Next: The Fit

The Fit

And now, for the three and D with a questionable three, Jerami Grant.  This off-season, you can bet the three point shot is in his sights.  Can he improve on it?  I think he can.

But in the meantime, is there even enough evidence to believe he can nail the three consistently? To answer that, let’s jet to another part of the planet, to the country of Turkey, and peek in at another name on the Philadelphia 76ers radar… Dario Saric,

With the latest news of the young man 99% certain of coming to the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most promising perimeter shooters to debut to the NBA projected to join the team.

And so, with three pieces of the lineup, each with a very different buy high upside to the offense, does the team need an offensive or defensive standout?  Well, someone whose opinion is well respected in matters of the Philadelphia 76ers sees a fit with Saric and Grant.

And I tend to agree. If the roster includes Embiid, Saric, and Simmons, there is plenty of offensive firepower on the roster.   While Grant develops his offense, his defense is already at a high level.  And that defense starts the transition.  Plop Jahlil Okafor into the lineup and you’ve created offensive mismatches all over the basketball court.  Swap out Okafor for Nerlens Noel and you’ve suddenly converted the team to a rim protecting nightmare for small ball lineups.  Bring in Robert Covington and you’ve transformed the team to a two way trey shooting fivesome.

Versatility.  Before we even add veterans… we have a versatile lineup.

Next: Growing Pains

Growing Pains

This roster will not score 120 points per game and hold opponents to 70 points from the beginning.  We know that Embiid, Saric, and Simmons will be making their debut to the NBA this season, and that will require a transition.  We know that the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to address the veteran component of the team.  We have also speculated that the team will fit the five most talented players onto the lineup, but the narrative so far is that Simmons and Saric are fours, that Embiid, Okafor and Noel are fives, and that the team is seeking help in the back court.

We’ll need to discover who fits, who can ball, and in which roles these players most excel.  Discovery is learning.  Learning is not finding what works, but more likely what does not work.

But the promise of this roster is brighter than anything we’ve had for many years.   So many point to the Philadelphia 76ers and the futility of each season.  But in the 2016-2017, the team finally has the long hoped for chance at vindication. Two players acquired for the team in 2014 will join a first round draft pick.

Jerami Grant, fresh off his nomination to USA Team Select, is worthy of playing time alongside this roster.   Noted by the best minds of the NBA as one of the 25 best young players, that vote of confidence supersedes any debate we might generate among ourselves.

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And so, we look into the future and it’s growing brighter by the minute.   It’s not just who may arrive, but who has already begun to step up.  Jerami Grant did not manufacture many wins on his own, but the cavalry is arriving.  But Jerami Grant has earned the respect of the NBA in just two years of play, and in doing so, is staking claim to a Philadelphia 76ers starting role.