Lakers insider details the pros and cons of Jerami Grant trade for LA amid quiet summer
The LA Lakers have been linked to Jerami Grant following an unfruitful free agency market to start the offseason. The Lakers have not signed any big names to improve their roster and only added rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. But what are the pros and cons of a Grant trade?
Lakers insider Jovan Buha praised Grant's scoring ability although there are questions about his defense now that he's older. He will also be asked to take a back seat and become a third or fourth option, which was one of the reasons why he left the Denver Nuggets back then to sign with the Detroit Pistons.
"The thing I like most about Jeremy Grant is I think he could play the three or the four. He theoretically can. I don't think he's quite the same level as a defender as he was a few years ago before he broke out in Detroit. He wanted to take that step and he proved he can be a number one or number two option," Buha said. [38:27 - 39:00]
The Athletic reporter added:
"If you slot him in as like the number three or number four guy on this roster and you can imagine he gets the second unit reps. You're gonna be the guy with like we're going to have these second unit shifts where for three to six minutes a half. You are the guy and we're running the offense through you." [39:08 - 39:31]
However, the major downside of acquiring Jerami Grant is his enormous contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The LA Lakers can trade for him theoretically, but he's just in the second year of a massive five-year, $160 million deal. He has a salary of $29.7 million next season and will keep increasing until it reaches $36.4 million in the final year.
Having that kind of contract will limit the Lakers' flexibility in providing help on other major roster flaws. The team still needs a big man to play with Anthony Davis or even back him up in a very tight Western Conference.
Will the Portland Trail Blazers trade Jerami Grant?
The Portland Trail Blazers brought back Jerami Grant in hopes of keeping Damian Lillard, who was angling for a trade request last year. Grant became that number one option once Lillard made up his mind and was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks before the start of training camp.
Portland is suddenly in a rebuilding mode with Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson at the helm. The Blazers probably know that Grant's contract will turn some teams off, but if they find a suitor, there's a chance that they might pull it off.
Another option for the Blazers is to let him ball out this season to increase his value and possibly get a lot in return at next year's deadline or even next summer.