The Minnesota Timberwolves should target Jerami Grant in free agency

Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant could be a perfect target for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have long been searching for a frontcourt player to pair with their current franchise centerpiece for both now and into the future.

The Timberwolves need someone to complement Karl-Anthony Towns. First, it was Taj Gibson, followed by Dario Saric. Currently, it looks as though James Johnson is going to be starting alongside Towns in 2020-21.

But there are a plethora of options that are worthy of considering for Minnesota this offseason. Perhaps the most notable of these is Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant.

The Minnesota Timberwolves should target Jerami Grant in free agency

Grant started his career in Philadelphia before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder dealt him to the Nuggets last summer in exchange for a first-round pick. Now, coming off of a career season, Grant has a player option worth roughly $9 million that he is likely to decline.

This past season in Denver, Grant averaged 12 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal per game. He shot 39-percent from the 3-point line and has been arguably the Nuggets’ best perimeter defender throughout the postseason.

The Timberwolves don’t have many assets that they would be willing to part with in order to bring Grant to the team, but they could attempt to orchestrate a sign-and-trade.

First, they would likely have to find a team willing to take on James Johnson’s $16 million player option (whilst sending them other assets as well). It can still be considered a trade asset in a larger deal, and a team like Charlotte may have designs on acquiring a more expensive, star-caliber player next year and could find Johnson’s expiring deal useful.

Being a free agent in a somewhat underwhelming class, it is possible that Grant earns upwards of $17-18 million per year. And honestly, he might be worth that price tag.

There are plenty of reasons on all sides to complete this trade, but the one given is that Jerami Grant would have to want to sign with the Timberwolves. This deal cannot happen otherwise.

The Nuggets, getting Jake Layman, likely accept simply because they would still be obtaining a rotational forward despite losing someone as talented as Grant. From their perspective, getting Layman is better than nothing at all. The Hornets need to find a creative way to use their salary cap space this offseason. Bringing in players such as Johnson in addition to picks could help them continue their rebuild.

The Timberwolves, bringing in Grant would add another player to a starting lineup that desperately needs both perimeter defense and frontcourt spacing. And if Minnesota has a chance to do a deal as such this offseason, they absolutely should.