Jerian Grant Is In The Right Place At The Right Time

Few players did more for their stock than Jerian Grant of the Chicago Bulls did during Summer League. Coming off a trade that sent him to Chicago, it couldn't have come at a better time. Things could not be more different for the Bulls, who enter unfamiliar territory this year because, for the first time since 2008, things do not revolve around Derrick Rose.

The subtraction of Rose led to the addition of an aging backcourt in Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade via free agency. Even with those additions, Grant should be able to carve out a nice role as backup point guard. While he only averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting almost 40 percent from the floor and 22 percent from deep in his first season in New York, Grant has a ton of upside.

If there is one thing you should know about Jerian Grant's game, he's explosive. During his four-year career at Notre Dame Grant threw down some of the nastiest, show stopping dunks that topped Sportscenter for weeks on end. He has excellent bounce, quick reflexes on both offense and defense, and looks great in transition running the floor.

Standing at 6'4" and weighing 195 points, Grant is an ideal candidate for the modern NBA point guard. He is lanky enough to interrupt passing lanes and gritty enough to defend multiple positions. His size and athleticism help him finish around the rim at a high rate, he usually finishes with a layup or free throws. If given any space to drive the lane, chances are he is going to either rise up and finish above the rim or find an open teammate.

Athleticism and physical attributes aside, Grant can just flat out ball. He's extremely intelligent and it shows on the court with how he attacks the defense. Grantcan take players off the dribble with his tight handles, he runs the pick and roll well, and he understands the game better than most. Alongise that, extremely reliable too, as he averaged only one turnover per game his rookie year and averaged barely two per game in his four years at Notre Dame. He has a very reliable midrange jumper and a capable three pointer.

While he shot an abysmal 22 percent from deep his rookie year, a lot of that can be attributed to the looks he was getting and the minutes he was playing. He does have a tendency to fall in love with his three pointer, even if it just isn't going in but offensive guru Fred Hoidberg should be able to help him tweak it. If he can take better, smarter shots from deep then he will become a very successful player in this league.

If given a shot and some real minutes in Chicago, Grant will flourish. Rondo becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2018, which is perfect for Grant. If he can perform consistently and shoot closer to 40 percent from deep, he could be looking at a starting job on one of the most storied franchises in the NBA.