The Dallas Mavericks have been to the NBA playoffs six of the last nine seasons, but they have not won a playoff series since Dirk Nowitzki helped Dallas win their one and only championship in 2011. Luka Doncic is the present and future of this team and with him, they definitely have a shot to become a championship contender once more, but that does not seem to be the case this season.
Currently 18-18 and the 8-seed in the Western Conference, it is hard to imagine that the Mavericks have what it takes to be a real contender this season, Obviously guys being in and out of the rotation due to injuries and health protocols has limited this team’s ability to win games, but overall, they just do not have enough talent compared to teams like the Warriors, Jazz and Suns at the top of the Western Conference standings.
Luka Doncic can only do so much for this team and he has only played in 22 of his team’s 36 games this season due to injuries and health protocols. As for Kristaps Porzingis, durability is a concern for him all season long given the fact that he has not played more than 57 games in a season since his second year in the league and Tim Hardaway Jr. has been very underwhelming when he has been on the court this season.
After receiving a four-year, $75M deal this past offseason, Hardaway Jr. is only averaging 14.9 points (4th best on the team), 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and has shot only 33% from three-point range.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
Playing under the value on his contract and the Mavericks not having the best secondary scorers, this team is definitely one that should look to “buy” at the trade deadline. Their cap situation and Luka Doncic’s contract set to increase greatly next season definitely makes things complicated for who the Mavericks could look to target, but one player they should have their eyes on is Pistons’ forward Jerami Grant.
After signing a three-year, $60M deal with the Detroit Pistons in 2020, Jerami Grant exploded last season and had a career-year. In 54 games a season ago, Grant averaged 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shot 35% from three-point range, solidifying himself as an elite-level two-way player at either forward position.
While he is currently out with a thumb injury that required surgery, Jerami Grant should be ready to return sometime closer to February and can make an immediate difference for any playoff contending team in this league, especially as a secondary scorer.
When on the court, Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis make up a strong duo and Jalen Brunson has been having a breakout fourth season in the league, but who else does this Mavericks team really have?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
Dwight Powell and Reggie Bullock are not big-time scoring threats and while Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber can get hot from the perimeter, they are nothing more than role players on this roster as well.
Dallas’ defense does rank inside the Top-10 in the league in defensive rating, but scoring is the name of the game in the NBA today and the Mavericks currently rank 26th in the league in points per game. Adding Jerami Grant to this roster not only makes them better offensively, but he will help defensively as well given his ability to guard numerous different positions.
Detroit has not come out and said that they are looking to trade Jerami Grant, but The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported a few weeks ago that the Lakers and Trail Blazers have shown the most interest in the forward. Charania also mentioned that “dozens of teams” have called the Pistons about Grant’s availability and the sense is that Detroit is “open to a possible deal” involving Jerami Grant.
Should he become available at the trade deadline, Jerami Grant will be one of the most sought after trade targets league-wide because of his ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
How the Mavericks could get a deal done for Grant remains a question mark, but recently, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor mentioned a trade package of Tim Hardaway Jr. and draft picks as a possible way for Dallas to pursue the Pistons’ forward.
Financially, this trade could work, but the Mavericks’ draft capital is a little “iffy” in terms of the Detroit Pistons having serious interest.
Dallas cannot trade their 2022 first-round pick as a result of previously trading their 2023 first-round pick to New York in the Kristaps Porzingis trade years ago, so the earliest first-round pick they could trade to Detroit would be two years after the 2023 pick is moved to the Knicks.
A trade package of Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, a 2022 second-round pick and a 2025 first-round pick for Jerami Grant and Cory Joseph is something that could be very appealing to the Dallas Mavericks, but whether or not the Pistons would be interested really depends on what other offers they can get for Grant.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
Who the Detroit Pistons look to trade Jerami Grant to remains a big question mark this NBA season, but having just one more year left on his contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, the Pistons would be smart to try and leverage him for a ton of future assets right now.
