This is the helplessness of the NBA mid-level players, even if they perform well, they cannot control their own destiny.
In the summer of 2020, Jerami Grant refused the invitation of a number of championship-winning teams, including the Nuggets, and resolutely chose to join the Pistons, although this decision has made many people unable to understand, and even some fans feel that Grant only has money in his eyes, but in fact? The reason why Grant went to the Pistons was not because of the annual salary of 20 million+, but here, to give him a dream "new role", that is, the core.
But alas, a player of Grant's level, despite doing his best to act and prove it, still can't control his own destiny.
For Grant, joining the Pistons was an opportunity, and for the Pistons, nurturing Grant was just a business.
In the 20-21 season, the Pistons, rebuilding the first year, did not exchange many assets for several main players Reggie Jackson, Griffin, Drummond, and no one in the team was for sale, so they only had 2 purposes this season, one was to win the title, the other was to cultivate Grant, after all, the team has a lot of ball rights to digest, look around, except for Grant, no one has such qualifications.
So, with the blessing of the unlimited right of fire, we met Grant, who had previously sentenced the two of them.
He played 54 appearances, started 54 times, averaged 33.9 minutes per game, averaged 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.0 blocks, shooting 42.9% from the field and 35% from three-point range.
The performance is not bad, but in fact, Grant's efficiency is not high, for such a report card, he not only consumed 28.5% of the player usage rate, but also averaged 17.3 shots per game, but the real shooting rate is only 55.6%, the assist rate is only 14.5%, what is this concept?
Of all the players in the league who are at least 28 percent used, only Russell, Wei Shao, Wall, Clarkson and Oladipo have worse true shooting percentages than Grant, while in terms of assist rates, he is the first-to-last, or even worse than Jordan Clarkson.
And from the point of view of scoring means, Grant can hardly be called a qualified ball-holding scorer, blocking the attack can only get 0.78 points per round, only 31.2% of the league's players, but instead performed better at the no-ball end, such as switching offenses, which can get 1.20 points per round, 66.2% ahead of the league's players; and fixed-point shots, which can get 1.01 points per round, 52.4% ahead of the league's players.
Some people may say that this is Grant's first time as the core of the ball, it is not easy to play like this, but you see the second season, his performance on the ball-holding end is still not ideal, blocking and dismantling offensive efficiency dropped to 0.65 points, only stronger than the league's 15.7% players; singles efficiency is only 0.81 points, only stronger than the league's 38.3% players.
Don't look at the average of 20+ per game, but in the case of more than 26% utilization, Grant's true shooting rate has dropped to only 54%, the assist rate is still 14.8%, and when he is on the floor, the Pistons offensive end has 6.4 points less per 100 rounds.
Most importantly, the Pistons have already had a non-sale this season, he is the Champion Lang Cade Cunningham, there is also, Grant's contract is only 3 years, next summer, he will be eligible to renew the 4-year 114 million US dollars, with Grant's current data, whether it is himself, or the team, will do their best to fight, but for the Pistons, no matter from what point of view, Grant is not the team's next 5 years, the indispensable person, rather than letting him slip away in vain, it is better to cash out at the highest point.
At this moment, it is the peak of Grant's trading value, excellent no-ball attack, plus comprehensive defensive ability, although the ball is weak, but the good villains have also exercised for so long, occasionally broke out a game can also get an unexpected gain, just bitter Grant, going around for a year, or did not escape the fate of the championship puzzle, no matter where he was finally sent, he will no longer have unlimited firing rights, data shrinkage will become inevitable, even if the team is renewed in advance, it can not be 4 years 114 million.
This is the business, this is the helplessness of the mid-level players, recall that 1 year ago, pistons general manager Troy Weaver personally lobbied Grant to join, and painted a brilliant blueprint for his future in Detroit, and now, Weaver is sitting in the office, listening to quotes from all sides about Grant, it is worth mentioning that Weaver has only been in office for a year and a half, no matter where he sends Grant, this will be the most colorful operation in Weaver's Pistons career.
Ending: There is no need to be too sorry for Grant, in the past year, he has not gained anything, a heavy Olympic gold medal, is the biggest praise.