The Portland Trail Blazers have been the busiest team in the NBA this summer. They aren’t finished yet. Sure, trading Damian Lillard was the most important task for this team. Mission accomplished. Still, there are a lot of unanswered questions for this team.
Largely, that’s by design. The Blazers knew they’d likely move Malcolm Brogdon when they acquired him. Meanwhile, the team seems more open to experimenting with Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III. Still, Williams III feels like a good candidate to be moved throughout the year as well. The Blazers know that building a roster is a work in progress. With that said, they’ve found themselves in an unexpected situation regarding Jerami Grant.
When the team extended Grant, they probably expected to pair him with Lillard. Lillard is gone, but Grant remains. Portland can’t move him until closer to the deadline, having just extended him. When he’s eligible to be traded, could they send him to the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Trade Proposal
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F Rui Hachimura, G Gabe Vincent
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Jerami Grant
By contrast, the Lakers were somewhat quiet. They weren’t totally inactive. The Lakers extended key players like Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt. They added some new pieces like Vincent, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, and Taurean Prince. Still, the Lakers haven’t exactly made a splash.
It’s worth noting that most of the Lakers’ acquisitions have been young players. This isn’t how we expect a contending team to behave. What do the Lakers have planned? Are they preparing for a future without LeBron James?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Perhaps. Alternatively, they could be preparing for a trade. LeBron James is still on this roster. The Lakers are surely hoping to compete for the NBA title. With that in mind, as a general rule, veterans are more useful than young players. Is Grant the type of player who could help them win a title?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
The Lakers do this deal to upgrade their roster. So, they’ll want to monitor Hachimura. If he looks like a comparable player to Grant, they’ll pass on this deal. After all, Hachimura is much younger. On the other hand, let’s be honest. In all likelihood, Hachimura won’t be as productive of a player as Grant next season.
That’s more of a compliment to Grant than an insult to Hachimura. After all, Grant is a shot-creating wing who also spaces the floor and guards multiple positions. This is exactly the type of player who can help a contender. Grant is portable enough to fit on any team.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In all likelihood, he’d be the Lakers’ third option. Sure, he’s on an expensive, long-term deal. The Lakers can worry about that later. For now, they should be happy to land talent wherever they can. If this leads to James and Anthony Davis’ second title in a Lakers uniform, the team won’t mind eating Grant’s contract for a while. Should the Blazers aid them in their quest for a title?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
What difference does it make to the Blazers? One thing is certain: this team won’t be competing for a title for a long time. At the same time, the future is bright in Portland. This team has an impressive young core.
With that said, it could use a little more diversification. Much of Portland’s young talent is in its backcourt. Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons all have tremendous potential. The Blazers also have their young big-man duo in Ayton and Williams. With that in mind, Portland could stand to add a young wing to their rotation.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
That’s what they’re doing here. Hachimura is a bit older than Portland’s most important players, but he’s still young enough to be part of a rebuild. Moreover, the small-market Blazers probably don’t intend on staying near the bottom of the Western Conference standings for long. If that’s true, they might want to get busy and acquire their wing of the future in Hachimura.
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