Nuggets complete Jerami Grant sign-and-trade, gain $9.3 trade exception

The trade exception that the Denver Nuggets created with the Jerami Grant sign-and-trade could really come in handy.

Jerami Grant’s decision to leave the Denver Nuggets for the Detroit Pistons as a free agent over the weekend caused the franchise to take a significant step back before they made a couple of moves to help blunt the loss of Grant’s defensive versatility.

However, despite his choice to sign with the Pistons and bet on himself being capable of being a featured scorer, Grant won’t be leaving the Nuggets’ unceremoniously. According to multiple reports, the Denver will be executing the Grant move as a sign-and-trade, receiving cash considerations and a $9.5 million trade exception from Detroit (while also sending the Pistons the draft rights to Nikola Radicevic).

Although it’s not the most significant amount and substantially lower than his salary with the Pistons (due to Base Year Compensation), it’s the type of shrewd decision that will allow them to add players without having to agree to a contract or trade a player to match their salary.

The Nuggets also have a $3.3 million trade exception from trading Juancho Hernangomez to the Minnesota Timberwolves and a $1.6 million trade exception from trading Shabazz Napier to the Washington Wizards, both of which expire on Feb. 6, 2021.

With up to three lower to mid-level players to enhance their roster with, Denver can now make the type of splash transaction — such as a trade for Wizards star Bradley Beal — that would have them seen universally as NBA Finals contenders.

To clarify, that’s not to say that Beal’s contract that be absorbed into their trade exceptions. Trading for Beal — or any star with a sizable contract — would just require the Nuggets to trade away more players than they receive, creating a need for depth.

Whether or not Denver actually uses any of their trade exceptions, they certainly can’t be faulted for creating another avenue to potential improvement. Especially one that serves as a sort of loophole to a franchise with financial limitations.