Every team in the NBA won’t put the same value on the same contract. A team that wants to improve may be willing to absorb a “bad contract” if it’s attached to a good player.
By contrast, a bloated contract can be a more significant problem for a contending team. What about a team that just started rebuilding?
They land somewhere in between. For example, take the Portland Trail Blazers. This team just started rebuilding. With that in mind, Jerami Grant’s contract isn’t a major concern.
Portland won’t likely need to use that salary slot for years. Still, a rebuilding team wants optionality – the Blazers would prefer financial flexibility if they could find it. What about the Charlotte Hornets?
This team has been rebuilding for years. In all likelihood, they’re done mining the lottery for top-end talent. The Hornets would like to make strides this season if they could.
What if they acquired Grant from the Blazers?
NBA Trade Proposal — Charlotte Hornets Land Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F Gordon Hayward, 2024 Second-Round Pick (BOS via CHA), 2027 Second-Round Pick (CHA), 2028 Second-Round Pick (CHA)
Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Jerami Grant
Fans don’t always agree on a contract’s value, either. Plenty of fans are yet to adjust to the league’s inflation. The cap is about to spike. A $20 dollar annual value is not the same today as it was yesterday. This is the new NBA.
A contract can’t even be “bad” unless it’s a max deal. If a player is among the highest-paid players in the league and he’s not among the most productive, he’ll be challenging to move.
Otherwise, a contract can likely be traded. If nothing else, it can match salaries with draft capital attached. With that in mind, the Blazers still probably wouldn’t have offered Grant this deal if they’d known Damian Lillard would request a trade.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Grant is a good NBA player, but this is a substantial, long-term deal. If they put him on the market, his value may be limited.
Should Portland accept this type of return for him?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do This Deal
The Blazers shouldn’t take this deal today. Luckily, they can’t. Since Portland gave Grant this contract this summer, he’s subject to trade restrictions at the moment. If this deal occurs, it’ll happen closer to the trade deadline.
So, if Grant has been especially productive, the Blazers may want to hold out for a better offer. It’s possible that Grant could yield a first-round pick.
At the same time, it isn’t likely either. Any team acquiring Grant is making a major commitment. If Portland can’t land a first-rounder for him, they should still entertain moving him. In that event, this is a good return.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Hayward is on an expiring contract – this deal offers Portland a huge increase in financial flexibility. Throw in a trio of second-round picks, and if this is the best that Portland can do, they should do it. Should the Hornets offer this much for Grant?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do This Deal
There’s another factor that impacts how teams view contracts: how easily do they attract talent? That’s something that Charlotte struggles with. Here, they’re willing to take on an undesirable contract because they’ve got more limited means of improving their team than some of the bigger markets.
Some will say that Grant is redundant alongside Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller. We’re not sure. Miller can play the 2, and the two forwards are both interchangeable.
At the same time, Bridges has been dealing with legal trouble. It’s possible that the Hornets will eventually look to replace him. Here, they’re doing so in one trade.
NBA TRADES & RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Either way, Grant is worth the investment for the Hornets. This team needs to take a step forward. By the time key players like Miller and Mark Williams need extensions, Grant will be further into his deal. With less years left on it, teams will put a different value on it.
