5 former 76ers who would’ve turned Philly into true title contenders this season

3. Jerami Grant

The Sixers drafted Grant in the second round in 2014. Nobody expected the 6’7 forward to become a 20-point-per-game scorer making over $30 million per season. He averaged just 12.1 points per game during his second and final season at Syracuse and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

Philadelphia was just beginning The Process and looking for young talent with upside. Grant improved in his first two seasons, but the 76ers could not resist trading him to Oklahoma City for Ersan Ilyasova and a first-round draft pick.

He kept getting better from there. Grant was a key role player as the Nuggets reached the conference finals inside the bubble in 2020. He left for a larger role in Detroit before being traded to be Damian Lillard’s co-star in Portland. Grant signed a new contract as Lillard demanded a trade in the 2023 offseason. The 6’7 forward is now averaging 21.0 points per game and shooting north of 40 percent from 3-point range on the rebuilding Blazers.

Every team wants a wing with size, scoring, shot creation, and defensive versatility. Jerami Grant checks all of those boxes and would still have trade value if Portland made him available. He may be overpaid in his latest contract, but there is plenty to like about his game. Grant would have helped the 76ers contend for a championship this season, and the franchise may target him if they cannot find an impactful free agent to add in the offseason.