Jerami Grant – Detroit Pistons
Pistons’ Jerami Grant is expected to be the most sought after trade target at the NBA trade deadline this season and the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves as one of many teams across the league targeting the veteran forward.
Now in his 8th NBA season, Grant has really established himself as one of the better two-way combo-forwards in the league since joining the Pistons last year. Signing a three-year, $60M with the Pistons ahead of the start of the 2020-21 season, Jerami Grant quickly became one of the league’s most improved talents last season after averaging 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and shooting 42.9% from the floor.
While he is currently rehabbing from thumb surgery to repair the UCL ligament in his right thumb, Grant could return before the end of January and is not expected to see any limitations in his game.
Being a factor on both ends of the floor, as well as being under contract through next season, Jerami Grant would really help make a difference on the Lakers. However, his asking price is not low due to the many teams interested in him and Jerami Grant does not want to revert back to a role player.
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Jerami Grant has really enjoyed his time with the Detroit Pistons, as he has a great active relationship with GM Troy Weaver, and Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported recently that Grant has “little interest” in joining a new team where he is not featured as a primary option on the offensive-end of the floor.
In Los Angeles next to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, Jerami Grant would most definitely be a second-though on the offensive-end of the floor, hence why this trade may not ever get off the ground from preliminary talks.
Hypothetically, a trade package of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a veteran would work financially for the Lakers in terms of acquiring Grant’s $20M contract, but it is just very hard to believe that Jerami Grant and the Pistons would want this trade.
Not only would Jerami Grant be lowering his own production, ultimately hurting his pending free agency in 2023, but the Lakers’ offer does not help the Pistons in any way.
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Maybe they could find value with Talen Horton-Tucker, a young, versatile talent on the wing, but Kendrick Nunn would not fit in with Cunningham and Hayes in the backcourt. Not to mention, Detroit has no use for any of the veterans the Lakers have to offer.
The idea of adding Jerami Grant remains relevant for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but they really should turn their attention to other, more feasible trade targets.
