PG Grant gets Oladipo’s advice
LAS VEGAS — A few hours after the news broke Saturday night — the news that Jerian Grant would go from the Chicago Bulls to the Orlando Magic in a threeteam trade — Grant received some enthusiastic encouragement from one of his best friends.
That best friend, Victor Oladipo, knows a thing or two about the city of Orlando and playing for the Magic.
Make the most of the opportunity, Oladipo told Grant.
On Sunday, Grant, a 6-foot-4 point guard, flew from Las Vegas to Orlando. On Monday, Grant expects to take a physical and visit the Magic’s Amway Center practice facility. Then, a short while later, he plans to return to Las Vegas and spend time with his new teammates and new coaches as the NBA Summer League continues.
“It’s an opportunity to go play with some talented young players and with a few talented vets, some guys to learn from, some guys to teach,” Grant said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. “So I’m excited about this new opportunity. For myself, it’s just being able to prove myself and really take advantage of this opportunity.”
With the trade, Grant became the third point guard on the Orlando roster, joining incumbent starter D.J. Augustin and rookie free-agent signee, Isaiah Briscoe. It seems likely Grant eventually will slot as the prime reserve behind Augustin, but coach Steve Clifford said Sunday he won’t make any depth-chart decisions until he and his coaches have an opportunity to meet Grant, work with him and let Grant compete for playing time.
Clifford values tall, longarmed point guards because of the versatility they provide on defense, and the 25-year-old Grant definitely fits the bill.
“He has the size, athleticism and, I think, natural intensity level to play against the better players,” Clifford said. “Now it’s just going to be a question of evaluating, getting to know him, working with him. Hopefully, he’s at an age where he could take a step and that’s what plays out in the next few months or year or so.”
About to enter his fourth year in the NBA, Grant primarily played a backup role last season in Chicago. He averaged 4.6 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. But his shooting was a weakness. He sank only 32.6 percent of his 3-pointers and 41.6 percent of his shots overall.
Grant doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. He attended DeMatha Catholic High School outside of Washington, D.C., with Oladipo, who played three seasons for the Magic from 2013 to 2016. Last year, Oladipo made a major leap in his game and won the league’s 2017-18 Most Improved Player Award. Grant can look to his family, too. His dad, Harvey Grant, enjoyed a lengthy NBA career. His uncle, Horace Grant, won four NBA titles and also played five largely successful years with the Magic in the 1990s.
Jerian Grant hopes to leave a mark with the Magic, too.
“Obviously, I’m a bigger point guard,” he said. “I’m a guy with great vision. I think I have a good basketball IQ, and I just feel like I’m just going to continue to get better. I’m excited to be able to go out here and lead a bunch of hungry guys. I know it’s been a while since they’ve won here, so I’m excited to be able to bring a little something.”