Report: 76ers trade Jerami Grant to Thunder for draft pick, Ersan Ilyasova

Jerami Grant is 22 and athletic, has a track record for improvement and is on a team-friendly contract.

So, the 76ers are trading him.

But is this a continuation of Sam Hinkie’s Process or a departure? The deal with the Thunder for Ersan Ilyasova includes mixed signals.

 

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

Philadelphia has traded Jerami Grant to OKC, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) November 1, 2016

OKC sends Ersan Ilyasova and a conditional future pick to the Sixers, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) November 1, 2016

The stringent protections on OKC conditional first-round pick to Sixers for Grant make what league executives call "a fake first" in deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) November 1, 2016

Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today:

The pick the Thunder are sending the Sixers is a future first-rounder but with multiple protections, I've been told.

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) November 1, 2016

Marc Stein of ESPN:

ESPN sources say that the Sixers made the trade to KEEP Ersan Ilyasova. They've wanted a stretch four to help Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor.

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 1, 2016

On one hand, the 76ers might have been selling high on a player whose flaws could be exposed with more playing time – a deal in the spirit of the Michael Carter-Williams trade for the Lakers’ protected first-rounder. A former second-round pick, Grant is a woeful outside shooter who is thoroughly limited due that shortcoming.

But even so, he’s on a great contract – two more seasons including this one at a minimum salary – and just 22. Philadelphia shouldn’t trade him for a 29-year-old Ilyasova. Ilyasova is an underrated veteran, but on an expiring contract, he’s not changing the 76ers’ course. Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor need talent around them in two years, not a stretch four at their side now.

The draft pick could justify dealing Grant, but it’s impossible to say without knowing more about the protections.

Grant will help the Thunder replace Kevin Durant at forward, joining a rotation that includes Andre Roberson, Kyle Singler and Domantas Sabonis. Grant is an exceptional shot-blocker for his position, and his defense will get him on the court and give his offense an opportunity to develop. He adds athleticism to a team that already features Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams.

Oklahoma City will have two choices with Grant next summer:

• Exercise his 2017-18 minimum-salary team option, let him become an unrestricted free agent in 2018
• Decline his 2017-18 team option, make him a restricted free agent in 2017

There’s no clear answer yet, but the Thunder gained substantial control over a promising young player. Now, we’ll need to learn exactly what it cost them.