Sounds of Thunder: Woj Reports Oklahoma City Thunder Exercise Option for Jerami Grant

(edited for clarity)

According to NBA prognosticator extraordinaire, Adrian Wojnarowski, the Oklahoma City Thunder will exercise their team option on SF Jerami Grant.

The decision, welcomed by some and questioned by others, to go with the young and athletic SF was probably influenced by the financial constraints facing the cap-strapped Thunder this off-season.

Fortunately for the Thunder, Grant, the son of former NBA SF Harvey Grant and nephew of PF Horace Grant, showed real promise with a dazzling display of highlight dunks and a more than respectable personal best 37.7% touch from beyond the arc after the Thunder traded veteran Ersan Ilyasova, an eight year veteran with a $8.4 M price tag, for the young 76'er early in the season.

Grant won a lot of fans over in just his second game when he poster-ized former Thunder star Kevin Durant at Oracle Arena on November 3rd, 2016:

After finishing the season as the team’s #3 rim protector with 75 blocks, and second best regular rotation option from distance, Jerami is well worth the $1.5M he will cost, but his true value may lie in his possible upside. Rebounding, ball handling, and free throws are areas where Grant should, and needs, to improve on as well as developing....

vorped.com

a mid-range game. Players don’t thrive in this league on dunks alone and Grant’s shot chart is almost shockingly void of green between the 3-point arc and the rim. Not only would developing a mid-range shot make Grant a more complete offensive threat, but would also help his anemic 60% stroke from the free throw line as well.

If genetics are any indicator, Jerami’s father, Harvey Grant’s stat line through four seasons may somewhat ease the minds of any detractors about exercising his option:

basketballreference.com

Marc D Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Grant’s humble and unassuming manner off the court coupled with his passion and athleticism when he steps on the hardwood make him a perfect example of GM Sam Presti’s vision of what a Thunder player should be and bodes well for his future as a solid role contributor for this team in the years to come. Next year would be the ideal season to start.