Jerami Grant certainly didn’t do anything to disabuse the notion that the Thunder were looking to break up their team during the offseason.
And despite Sam Presti’s vehement denial during his media availability last week, the former Oklahoma City forward makes it sound like it was a good thing to get out while the getting was good.
The Thunder traded Grant to Denver on July 8, just a few days before shipping Paul George to Los Angeles in a blockbuster trade that upended the power balance in the entire Western Conference.
The Nuggets, like many teams around the league, held their media day Monday. And like plenty of his former teammates, Grant was asked to reflect on his trade from Oklahoma City.
As reported by Harrison Wind of DNVR, Grant said it “was good to get out of a sinking ship”.
Presti was asked about claims made by Doc Rivers to The Los Angeles Times about the Clippers knowing the Thunder “wanted to break up their team” prior to the George trade. Presti admitted to not knowing within what context the comments were made, but said they were untrue, pointing out “the thought pattern doesn’t really line up.”
George was traded two days after Grant, followed quickly by Russell Westbrook who was sent to Houston on July 11.
In his final year in Oklahoma City, Grant averaged career highs in scoring, three-point percentage, and rebounds, appearing in 80 games for the Thunder.
In return for Grant, Oklahoma City received a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
