The Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers have finalized a trade centered around Jerami Grant ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft. The Blazers had long been connected as a potential trade suitor for Grant with the intention of bolstering the supporting cast around Damian Lillard.
There was speculation about the Trail Blazers parting with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft in order to acquire Grant. Instead, they send a 2025 first-round pick (MIL). The other components of the trade involve the two teams swapping second-round picks (Detroit receive No. 36 pick, Portland receive No. 46 pick), a 2025 second-round pick (POR), and the Pistons receive the most favorable 2026 second-round pick between the Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans.
The trade return appears weak on the surface for the Pistons from surface-level trade value. However, the impact of Grant entering the final year of his current contract and needing a major contract extension should not be overlooked. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $112 million contract extension.
The motivation for the Pistons clearly is to clear cap space as they will now have just over $46 million in room this offseason. The Pistons have been considered potential suitors for a few major free agency targets that would better fit the timeline of Cade Cunningham than Grant, including names like Deandre Ayton (RFA), Miles Bridges (RFA), and Jalen Brunson.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Ex-NBA Exec Sees Jerami Grant As Ideal Portland Trail Blazers Trade Target
The main complication for the Pistons in their pursuit of Deandre Ayton is that now they lack much for salary matching mechanisms that would appeal to the Phoenix Suns. Ayton is not going to be allowed to leave without the Suns getting a genuinely enticing trade package in return. They can simply match the offer sheet he signs and then wait to trade him. The Charlotte Hornets are likely to match offers for Miles Bridges as well.
Whatever the Detroit Pistons do end up doing with their cap space, they will have options. They are thought of as seeking a secondary ball-handler to pair with Cade Cunningham. Given the success Jalen Brunson has achieved alongside Luka Doncic, perhaps their attention could be on him. The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks will pose fierce competition for his services, though.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Ex-NBA Exec Sees Jerami Grant As Ideal Portland Trail Blazers Trade Target
Among the priorities for the Pistons will likely be to re-sign Marvin Bagley III, who was acquired midseason in a trade with the Sacramento Kings. They could also use cap space to take on bad contracts to add more assets if they do not feel they are going to be in play for a big-name free agent.
The Portland Trail Blazers will now have to re-sign Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic in addition to making their selection with the No. 7 pick. Portland has the option of parting with the No. 7 pick to make a significant move to add a difference-maker next to Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant. John Collins has been a trade target linked recently but there will be plenty of options.
