Every NBA contract has to be evaluated in context. These deals don’t exist in a vacuum. There are plenty of factors to consider. What type of player are we talking about? How long is the contract, and what is the average annual value? Does this team need this player at this time?
Some deals are simple. Giannis Antetokoumnpo just signed a massive extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s worth it. The Bucks could have doubled the average annual value, and he’d still be worth it. They can’t put a price on Antetokoumnpo.
What about Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers? His deal is a little more complicated. He’s worth his annual salary in a vacuum.
Still, the Blazers likely wouldn’t have signed him for so long if they’d known Damian Lillard would eventually join Antetokoumnpo on the Bucks.
Could the Blazers send him to the New York Knicks as a result?
NBA Trade Proposal — New York Knicks Land Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, F/C Isaiah Roby, G/F DaQuan Jeffries, 2030 First-Round Pick (Lottery Protected – NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F Jerami Grant
Some contracts need to age. If a player is overpaid, it can be a liability to their team. Once that deal is expiring, it becomes an asset. A team may be happy to take on their deal so that they can shed it the following summer.
Look at Fournier. His deal has not aged well in New York. He’s making fringe starter money. Last year, he fell out of the team’s rotation altogether. The Knicks gave him a lot of money to sit on the bench and watch games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
Did it matter? The Knicks exceeded expectations. Where they lost value on Fournier, they made it up on productive players on rookie deals. In the end, it’s hard to manage a salary sheet perfectly. Does this deal help the Blazers accomplish that goal?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
On the other hand, some would argue that the Blazers don’t need salary space. This team is rebuilding. In theory, they could pay Grant to watch the games from home, which may not significantly impact their plans.
Sure. With that said, salary space is helpful to any team. If they made this deal, the Blazers could get aggressive in restricted free agency next summer. If they like any young players around the league, doing this deal could help them land them. In other words, flexibility is always useful.
So is draft capital. Since Grant is on a long-term deal, the Blazers likely won’t land an unprotected first for him. So, this lottery-protected pick is a blessing for them.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
If the Knicks are interested in Grant, the Knicks should be happy to make this move. Should they be interested in Grant?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks are in an interesting position. They were better than they likely expected to be last year. For a while, it’s felt as if the Knicks have been killing time until they could trade for a star. In the meantime, they put together a competitive squad.
Grant would make them more competitive. This is an unquestionable roster upgrade. Moreover, the Knicks’ books are well-balanced – they can afford Grant.
If they want to extend Immanuel Quickly and/or Quentin Grimes next summer, this deal won’t stop them. Meanwhile, they’ll still have the assets to trade for a star even after making this move.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
In a couple of years, Grant could be one of those assets. Sure, his deal is daunting now, but in a couple of years, a rebuilding team may not mind taking it on. That’s the thing about NBA contracts – they need to be viewed in the proper context.
