Jerian Grant

And-Ones: Frazier, Grant, Anderson, Christmas Games

Former NBA guard Tim Frazier didn’t last long with his latest European team. He parted ways with Greece’s Promitheas Patras after playing just one game, according to Eurohoops.net.

The club made the announcement, saying Frazier left due to a family emergency. Frazier previously played in Greece with AEK Athens and, most recently spent time in France with SIG Strasbourg. He appeared in 289 NBA games, most recently in 2021/22 when he saw action in 12 contests with the Magic and Cavs.

We have more from the international basketball world:

  • Another former NBA guard, Jerian Grant is expected to get a contract extension with Greek club Panathinaikos until 2026, according to another Eurohoops.net post. Grant, the 2022/23 EuroCup MVP, is averaging 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals this season.
  • Spain’s Valencia has announced the signing of former NBA forward Justin Anderson, according to Sportando. Anderson played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants last season after getting waived by Indiana during training camp. He was named to the All-G League Third Team. Anderson, who appeared in 242 NBA games after being a 2015 first-round pick, signed a 45-day contract with Valencia that can be extended until the end of the season.
  • The Warriors are playing on Christmas Day for the 13th time in the last 14 years and Stephen Curry doesn’t take it lightly, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “Marquee games on Christmas, it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Curry said. “You know, we’ve been in that environment before, so I understand what it’s going to be like. On the road, it’s going to be fun to just compete. It’s a test.” This year’s group of Christmas participants is virtually the same as last year. Of the 10 teams picked, nine also played on Dec. 25 last year. The exception is Miami, with Memphis not on the slate after debuting last year.

And-Ones: Flopping, Coach’s Challenge, Grant, Luxury Tax Payments

The NBA will be testing out a proposed in-game penalty for flopping during summer league contests, according to ESPN. A flop, which will be determined by in-game referees, will be penalized by awarding the opposing team a free throw. The player who commits the flop will be assessed a unsportsmanlike technical foul, which won’t count toward personal fouls or lead to an ejection.

The league’s Board of Governors will vote on July 11 regarding the implementation of the flopping penalty for next season, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. The Board will also vote on a second coach’s challenge to be awarded if the first challenge is successful.

We have more from around the basketball world:

  • Panathinaikos Athens is interested in signing 2023 EuroCup MVP Jerian Grant, Eurohoops’ Stavros Barbarousis reports. The Greek club is looking at Grant as a key reserve. Grant appeared in 279 NBA games from 2016-20. In 18 regular season EuroCup games last season, Grant averaged 14.6 points per game on 57.1% shooting. He also contributed 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest.
  • Teams below the 2022/23 luxury tax line received $15.1MM apiece, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. The biggest taxpayers, the Warriors and Clippers, contributed a combined $300MM to the pool.
  • Have you heard about the new second round exception in the CBA? Get the details here.

And-Ones: Grant, Abu Dhabi, Regular Season, Adaway

Veteran point guard Jerian Grant, who appeared in 279 NBA games from 2016-20, has been named the MVP of the 2022/23 EuroCup, the league announced in a press release. Like the EuroLeague, the EuroCup brings together several of the top teams from various leagues in Europe. Grant’s current club, Turk Telekom, is among the competitors.

In 18 regular season EuroCup games, Grant averaged 14.6 points per game on 57.1% shooting and also contributed 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest. He helped lead Turk Telekom to a 13-5 record and a deep playoff run — the Turkish team will square off against Gran Canaria in Wednesday’s EuroCup final.

Grant, the older brother of Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, was the 19th overall pick in the 2015 draft and played for the Knicks, Bulls, Magic, and Wizards during five NBA seasons. He put up modest averages of 6.1 PPG and 2.9 APG during his time in the NBA, but perhaps his strong showing overseas will earn him another shot stateside.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • The NBA has confirmed in a press release that the Mavericks and Timberwolves will take part in a pair of preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi this fall. The contests will be played on October 5 and 7.
  • It has already been an unusual postseason in 2023, which has become the first year in which a No. 7 seed (the Lakers) and No. 8 seed (the Heat) both advanced to the second round. Additionally, a No. 6 team (the Warriors) won a series for just the second time since 2016. Given the strength of the lower-seeded clubs in this year’s playoffs, John Hollinger of The Athletic explores the apparent decline in the regular season’s meaningfulness, considering why it’s happening and whether it will continue.
  • Former St. Bonaventure guard Jalen Adaway, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with San Antonio last summer and played for the Austin Spurs in 2022/23, has been dismissed and disqualified from the NBA G League for a violation of the league’s anti-drug program, per a press release. He’ll be eligible to apply for reinstatement in one year.

And-Ones: Muhammad, Musa, James, Grant

29-year-old former 2013 NBA lottery pick Shabazz Muhammad is hoping to return to the NBA after spending the past four seasons abroad, writes Dana O’Neil of The Athletic. Muhammad indicates that he has worked out for the Kings and has received interest from the Mavericks.

Muhammad was selected with the No. 14 pick out of UCLA in 2013 and spent the majority of his NBA tenure with the Timberwolves. After Minnesota waived him in the spring of 2018, he latched on with the Bucks. Since then, he has suited up for a pair of CBA clubs, the Shanxi Brave Dragons and the Shenzhen Aviators. During the 2021/22 season, Muhammad played briefly with the Nuggets’ NBAGL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. He next joined the San Miguel Beermen of the Phillippine Basketball Association.

“It was a big adjustment,’’ Muhammad said of his time abroad. “The language barrier — I needed a translator to talk to my teammates — the food. I got down on myself.’’

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Former Nets small forward Dzanan Musa has inked a deal with top EuroLeague power Real Madrid, according to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando. The 6’9″ wing, still just 23, was selected with the No. 29 pick by Brooklyn in 2018. From 2018-20, he appeared in a total of 49 games for the Nets, averaging 4.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG and 1.1 APG while shooting 37.6% from the floor. Musa spent the 2021/22 season with another Spanish team, Club Baloncesto Breogán, for whom he averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.1 APG.
  • Another recent Net, point guard Mike James, has opted to re-sign with AS Monaco on a two-year deal, according to Eurohoops. James, 31, was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team during his 2021/22 season with AS Monaco, averaging 16.4 PPG, 5.7 APG and 3.4 RPG. The 6’1″ James last suited up in 13 games for the Nets during the 2020/21 season, averaging 7.7 PPG, 4.2 APG and 2.5 RPG across 18.2 MPG.
  • Former NBA reserve guard Jerian Grant has signed with the Turkish club Turk Telekom, per Eurohoops. Grant, now 29, was selected with the No. 19 pick out of Notre Dame in 2015, and logged time with the Knicks, Bulls, and Magic, before landing with the Wizards for his last NBA season, 2019/20. The 6’4″ vet holds career NBA averages of 6.1 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.9 RPG and 0.7 SPG across 279 games. Grant spent the 2021/22 season with Italian EuroLeague club Olimpia Milano. During his games played within the Italian League, he averaged 7.4 PPG 2.7 APG and 1.9 RPG.

And-Ones: Wembanyama, Take Fouls, Grant, Trade Requests

Victor Wembanyama, the top-ranked prospect for the 2023 draft, has opted out of his contract with ASVEL Villeurbanne and is signing a two-year deal with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 from Paris, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports.

The 7’3” Wembanyama was also pursued by the G League Ignite, Australian NBL, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Basket and many others, Givony adds. While the terms of the latest contract were not disclosed, it’s logical to assume he’ll have an opt-out clause after the first season, so that he can play in the NBA during the 2023/24 season if he chooses.

We have more from around the basketball world:

  • Players being intentionally fouled to prevent fast break buckets has been a point of contention in recent seasons. The NBA is addressing that issue in Summer League games, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets. Those fouls will result in one free throw, plus the ball. It’s likely a precursor for what’s to come, Reynolds adds, with the Board of Governors expected to make the final change regarding transition take fouls later this month.
  • Olimpia Milano has parted ways with former NBA guard Jerian Grant after one season, according to Sportando. Grant has 279 NBA games on his resume, mostly recently during the 2019/20 season, when he appeared in six Wizards contests.
  • Kevin Durant‘s desire to be traded after signing an extension which doesn’t kick in until next season is something the owners want to fix, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes. It has been suggested that owners may want to recoup money the earlier a player is into his contract and a trade request is honored. However, it may be impossible to have a punitive enough deterrent for players who are signing massive deals.

And-Ones: Hervey, College Alternatives, Stone, Grant

Forward Kevin Hervey, the Thunder’s second-round pick in 2018, is in advanced talks with Virtus Bologna, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets. Hervey appeared in 10 games with the Thunder during the 2019/20 season. He played for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia last season.

We have more news from around the basketball world:

  • The creation of Overtime Elite, the G League’s Ignite and the Professional Collegiate League, along with international options, has expanded the choices of prospects beyond playing college ball. The New York Times’ David Gardner takes a closer look at the impact and complications those additional options are having on teenager basketball standouts.
  • Former NBA forward Diamond Stone has signed with Mets de Guaynabo in the Puerto Rican league, according to Sportando. Stone was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft but only appeared in seven games with the Clippers in his rookie campaign.
  • Former NBA guard Jerian Grant has officially signed a two-year deal with Italy’s Olimpia Milano, according to Sportando. Olimpia Milano’s interest in Grant was previously reported. Grant played in the Greek League this past season after being waived by the Rockets during training camp in December.

And-Ones: Broekhoff, Grant, Whittington, COVID-19 Testing

Former Mavericks swingman Ryan Broekhoff has re-signed with South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia’s NBL for two years, according to an NBL press release. Broekhoff played for the Phoenix this past season. He withdrew from playing in this summer’s Olympics with the Australian national team in order to focus on mental health issues.

We have more from the basketball world:

  • Former NBA guard Jerian Grant is expected to sign with Italy’s Olimpia Milano, Aris Barkas of EuroHoops.net reports. While playing for Promitheas Patras in the Greek league this year, Grant averaged team-highs 15.2 PPG and 6.1 APG during the regular season. He was waived by the Rockets during training camp in December.
  • Small forward Greg Whittington, who played four games with the Nuggets this season, has signed with Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia, according to LokoBasket.com. Whittington, who underwent knee surgery in January, was cut loose by Denver in April after spending most of the season with the Nuggets on a two-way contract.
  • There have been no positive tests for the COVID-19 virus among players in the postseason since June 23, NBA Communications tweets. There were 94 players tested since that day. Chris Paul is the only player known to have tested positive since the playoffs began.

And-Ones: Midseason Tournament, Martin, Grant, Musa

The NBA could benefit from adding more incentives if it chooses to create a midseason tournament, Jabari Young of CNBC writes. The league would likely use money as a primary incentive, whether it be for a charity, a social justice organization, or for the players.

While no plans have been finalized, the NBA is actively seeking ways to improve the viewing experience for fans during the regular season. The league recently added a play-in tournament, which has received mixed reactions from fans and teams.

As we relayed last month, the NBA hopes to eventually add a midseason tournament, though it would have to agree with the players’ association first. In addition, two-thirds of the league’s 30 team owners would have to approve of the idea, with 2022/23 being the earliest that it could be tested.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • The Sydney Kings and former NBA first-round pick Jarell Martin have exercised their mutual option for next season, the team announced. Martin, who averaged 17.9 points in 28 games this year, will return to the club for a second campaign. “Even though Jarell put up strong numbers, we still only got to see a small sample of what he can do in this league – coming in late, dealing with injuries, adjusting to the physicality – we expect him to have a big year” team CEO Chris Pongrass said, as relayed by Sportando.
  • Jerian Grant is receiving interest from Olimpia Milano (Italy) and Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia), according to SDNA (hat tip to Sportando). Grant holds five seasons of NBA experience (2015-20), most recently playing in Greece.
  • Former Nets forward Dzanan Musa and Anadolu Efes have parted ways, according to Basket Faul (as relayed by EuroHoops). Musa played 49 games with Brooklyn from 2018-20, originally signing with Efes in January.

Jerian Grant Signs With Greek Team

Free agent point guard Jerian Grant will continue his playing career in Greece, having signed with Promitheas Patras, the team announced today in a press release.

Grant, 28, was drafted with the 19th overall pick in 2015 and appeared in 279 regular season games over the next five years for New York, Chicago, Orlando, and Washington. Over the course of those five seasons, he averaged 6.1 PPG and 2.9 APG on .411/.323/.770 shooting in 17.9 minutes per contest.

After suiting up as a substitute player for the Wizards during the summer restart, Grant signed a training camp contract with the Rockets, but didn’t make the team’s regular season roster and was cut on December 16.

Grant’s deal with Promitheas Patras – a club that competes in the Greek League and the EuroCup – will reunite him with his brother Jerai Grant, who signed with the Greek squad last week. Both Jerian and Jerai are brothers of Pistons forward Jerami Grant.

Rockets Cut Jerian Grant, Kenny Wooten, Trevelin Queen

The Rockets have released three players, announcing today that guard Jerian Grant, forward Kenny Wooten, and forward Trevelin Queen have been placed on waivers (Twitter link via Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle).

Houston had a full 20-man roster and had to make cuts in advance of the regular season, but a couple of these moves are still noteworthy.

Grant, for instance, looked like a candidate to make the regular season roster following Chris Clemons‘ season-ending Achilles tear. With Clemons injured and Grant no longer on the roster, the Rockets lack an obvious backup for starting point guard John Wall. Houston will carry a $50K cap hit after waiving Grant, since he had a small partial guarantee.

Wooten, meanwhile, was on a two-way contract, so waiving him will open up one of the Rockets’ two-way slots, alongside rookie Mason Jones. My guess is that Houston intends to sign a point guard using that newly-created two-way opening, but we’ll have to wait to see what the team has in mind.

Queen, meanwhile, was a training camp invitee whose release was anticipated. He’ll be a candidate to join Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, if the team participates in the revamped 2020/21 NBAGL season.

The Rockets are now carrying 17 players, including one on a two-way contract. The team has very little wiggle room below the hard cap and will likely start the season with 14 players on standard contracts along with a pair of two-way players, so additional roster moves are around the corner.