Every team in the NBA has a plan. That doesn’t mean that the plan will work. Sometimes, plans go awry. When they do, teams need to pivot into a new plan.
By all appearances, the Portland Trail Blazers’ plans are falling apart this summer. It seemed as if this team planned around putting a contender around Damian Lillard. Those plans are going south. Lillard has requested a trade. Now, the Blazers are forced to pivot towards a new plan.
In all likelihood, part of that plan was extending Jerami Grant. If the Blazers are going to rebuild, they’ve got no need to keep Grant’s contract on the books. The Blazers need a new plan. Could part of that new plan involve sending Grant to the Atlanta Hawks?
The Trade Proposal
Portland Trail Blazers receive: F De’Andre Hunter, F/C Onyeka Onkongwu
Atlanta Hawks receive: F Jerami Grant
Meanwhile, some teams are dangerously close to abandoning their plans. They may not make major changes this summer. With that said, the clock is ticking. The Atlanta Hawks are feeling the pressure.
Building around Trae Young has had challenges. He’s one of the best playmakers in the NBA, but he’s a significant defensive liability. So, the Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray to cover for his shortcomings. That was a good plan – in theory. In practice, the offensive fit between these two ball-dominant guards has been questionable.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Atlanta Hawks, & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
What will the Hawks do? Trade rumors around Young have already surfaced. On the other hand, the Hawks would surely rather avoid moving Young. Look for this organization to entertain alternatives before they move Young. Would acquiring Grant be a good alternative?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
We think so. Grant is the best player in this deal. He’s a shot-creating forward who can guard multiple positions and space the floor. In other words, he’s exactly the type of player who should share the floor with Young.
With that in mind, he won’t come cheap. The Hawks are giving up two quality young players here. At the same time, it doesn’t feel like Atlanta is going to find sufficient playing time for Onkongwu. He’s been stuck behind Clint Capela for years, and soon, he’ll be due for his rookie extension. From that perspective, he’s expendable to the Hawks.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Atlanta Hawks, & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
So is Hunter – if the Hawks are receiving Grant. They’re both 3-and-D wings, but Grant is a more dynamic offensive player. This is a win-now move for Atlanta and it should make them a better team next season. What does it do for the Blazers?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
Onkongwu has struggled to find a role in Atlanta. That wouldn’t be the case in Portland. In all likelihood, he’d start over Jusuf Nurkic from day one for this rebuilding team. Onkongwu is younger, a better defender, and a more natural pick-and-roll partner for Scoot Henderson.
Make no mistake – any decision that Portland makes should be based around Henderson. He’s the future. Here, we’re assuming that Portland is trading Lillard. In that event, flipping Grant for two intriguing young players makes perfect sense.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Atlanta Hawks, & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Especially these two intriguing young players. The Blazers are stacked with young guards with star potential – after Henderson, they’ve still got Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons. On the other hand, they could use their big man of the future and a better young wing. This deal has them landing both – even if it has them changing plans in the process.
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