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NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Oklahoma City Thunder

By Jerry Christodoulatos

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

2. Jerami Grant

With Carmelo Anthony’s jump shooting falling off a cliff and his defensive prowess being questionable on the very best of nights, Jerami Grant emerged as the Thunder’s best option at power forward by the end of the season. In the Utah series, he helped jump start a surprisingly ineffective Thunder defense. With Grant in the game, Oklahoma City shifted its defense to a switch-heavy scheme that helped engineer a miraculous comeback in Game 5. He can legitimately guard almost every position on switches.

On offense, Grant has improved substantially since he first entered the NBA. Last season he flashed some skill as a roll man.  Despite his wiry frame, Grant is a great screen-setter and his elite athleticism makes him especially dangerous diving toward the rim for dunks. He also drew a ton of fouls last season as a rim runner and displayed a wily cutting game that often freed him up for easy buckets. Grant’s biggest weakness is his shaky jump shot, which allows teams to sag off of him on perimeter. After shooting 37 percent from deep in the 2016-2017 season, his jumper seemed to be taking a step in the right direction. But he plummeted back down to 29 percent from 3-point land this past year.

Oklahoma City has Jerami Grant’s bird rights but he’s an unrestricted free agent, so he’ll have an opportunity to sign elsewhere if he so desires.  Bringing him back will be more a question of the luxury tax than anything else though, because OKC can offer him more money than other teams. Much of this negotiation will depend on whether or not the franchise can keep Paul George. Re-signing Grant and George would push the tax bill through the roof.

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