| The Detroit News
Since Pistons general manager Troy Weaver began the roster retooling this week, the type of players he wants has become clearer, with big, versatile, two-way players as the prototype.
Weaver stayed with that template in free agency, agreeing to terms with forward Jerami Grant on Friday night, a league source told The Detroit News. The deal is for three years and $60 million, terms that Grant’s former team, the Denver Nuggets matched, according to reports.
Grant, a 6-foot-8 combo forward, is looking for more playing time and a more prominent role on offense and opted to leave for what looks to be a starting role with the Pistons.
Retaining Grant, 26, was one of the top priorities for the Nuggets, who made the Western Conference finals last season. He was productive in mostly a reserve role with the Nuggets, averaging 12 points and 3.5 rebounds and shooting 39 percent on 3-pointers last season in 71 games, including 24 starts.
That profile fits with some of the Pistons’ other moves in the offseason, including drafting 6-5 point guard Killian Hayes, 6-8 wing Saddiq Bey, adding 6-8 wing Josh Jackson in free agency and trading for 6-9 wing Dzanan Musa this week.
Grant, the son of former NBA player Harvey Grant, has been in the NBA for six seasons after playing in college at Syracuse. He was a second-round pick (39th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 draft.
In 2016, Grant was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he crossed paths with Weaver, who was an assistant general manager. Grant had his best season in 2018-19 with the Thunder, when he averaged 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds and shot 39 percent on 3-pointers and started 77 of 80 games.
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The Thunder traded Grant to the Nuggets for a 2020 first-round pick and after declining the final year of his contract, he was able to test the market in free agency.
Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard