Saddiq Bey Is Providing an Answer to the Pistons’ $112 Million Jerami Grant Problem

In this article, we will be taking a look at the biggest problem that the Detroit Pistons are facing and what they have to do in order for it to work. Additionally, we’ll discuss how Jerami Grant can provide them with an answer on their money problems.

The “jerami grant” is an NBA player who was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder for a package that includes two first-round picks and two second-round picks. He has struggled with injuries in his career, but he is still an athletic player.

Saddiq Bey, a forward for the Detroit Pistons, has been on a roll of late, and it’s offering an answer to Jerami Grant’s future: Bey’s improvement allows Detroit to trade Grant.

Various trade speculations swirled around the forward in the months leading up to the NBA trade deadline. The Pistons, of course, retained Grant, who is set to become a free agency after next season and is seeking a $112 million deal extension.

The Pistons picked Bey with the 19th overall choice in the 2020 NBA Draft, making him an unknown player. The Villanova product had a promising rookie season, which he will build on in the NBA season 2021-22. 

For the Detroit Pistons, Saddiq Bey has been a positive development. 

Saddiq Bey would have been No. 2 on this list if it had been released a few days later, with a 34.7 outburst score. https://t.co/ImUAD1fAIU

— Adam Fromal (@fromal09) March 18, 2022

This season, Bey is averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting 39.8/35.0/81.9. He also scored a season-high 51 points against the Orlando Magic in March. 

Bey is a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor. The eager and capable shooter can score off the dribble and defends well. From the beginning until the end of the season, Bey has been the Pistons’ best player. He’s started every game, been a key offensive contributor, and shown significant progress across the board. 

Despite being the Eastern Conference’s 14th seed, the Pistons have a lot of exciting young guys to work with, including Bey. Cade Cunningham, a rookie, has held his own and shown promise. He’s making his own shots, finding teammates for easy points, crashing the boards, and leading a youthful team in scoring.

Big guy On both ends, Isaiah Stewart is a dependable inside player. Marvin Bagley III has had his share of memorable experiences. It’s possible that the Pistons will re-sign him on a short-term contract. Grant isn’t in the way of these players all of the time. However, the fact that Bey continues to develop and has a comparable physique to Grant — Grant is an inch shorter than Bey, while the latter is five pounds lighter — makes Grant’s presence unneeded.

Moving ahead with a second-year Bey rather than a known commodity in Grant makes more sense for a squad that is rotting at the bottom of its league. Now fast forward to the offseason: Grant’s contract is up for renewal. He’s a 28-year-old two-way player who defends effectively and finds creative ways to score. Any playoff team would find that intriguing. 

The Detroit Pistons would benefit from trading Jerami Grant.

Jerami Grant (L) and Saddiq Bey of the Detroit Pistons | Nic Antaya/Getty Images

Even without a Grant trade, the Pistons are in for further upheaval. They’ll almost certainly choose in the top five in this year’s NBA draft. This means they’ll most likely add a player like Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr., Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, or Duke’s Paolo Banchero to the mix.

The return of Grant to Detroit might provide even more depth to the city’s youthful nucleus. One expects to get a first-round pick as well as a great young player who has fallen out of a team’s rotation. 

Furthermore, the Pistons are expected to have around $26 million in salary space and might free up an additional $21 million by trading Grant. They might spend the money on a promising young player like as Miles Bridges or Deandre Ayton.

Cunningham has the makings of a franchise general manager. Bey is on a professional path that might lead to him being a more efficient Grant. Instead of losing Grant for nothing in free agency, why not open the way for Bey to become a more important part of the equation by trading him? 

Grant isn’t to blame for the Pistons’ difficulties; he’s been a fine player on a club that’s still in the midst of a rebuilding process. However, throughout the previous two seasons, the Pistons have been one of, if not the worst, teams in the NBA. Without him, how can they have a worse record? 

For a club that is failing to win games, getting into the habit of dealing solid veterans may be risky. However, both from a basketball and financial standpoint, moving Grant is the best option. Bey keeps getting better, and he’ll be under club control for at least two more seasons. The team has to create way for a blue-chip talent to arrive.

Basketball-Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provided the contract numbers.

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