Casual NBA fans assume that a good player is a good trade chip. If he’s good, his team can get a good return for him, right? That’s simple enough. It also simply isn’t true.
Look at Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s a good player. You may assume that he’s got high trade value. You’re wrong. Grant is on a prohibitively expensive contract. Portland shouldn’t be holding out for a massive return in exchange for Grant.
That doesn’t mean that he can’t be moved. If Portland is desperate enough to get off of Grant’s contract, they could find a suitor. Could the New York Knicks be that suitor?
NBA Trade Proposal: New York Knicks Land Jerami Grant From Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, C Isaiah Hartenstein
New York Knicks Receive: F Jerami Grant
The Blazers are in a predicament with Grant. He’s a veteran on a huge, long-term contract. Meanwhile, they’re a rebuilding team. Who can they blame for this difficult situation?
Arguably, they can blame Damian Lillard. When the Blazers extended Grant this summer, they assumed he’d be on the roster to complement Lillard.
Unfortunately, Lillard requested a trade shortly after. With that said, one could make the case that the Blazers have got nobody to blame besides themselves.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
After all, they could have seen Lillard’s request coming. Plenty of people did. Either way, this is the situation for the Blazers. should the Knicks bail them out?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
This deal will make the Knicks a better team. Let’s start there. Grant is considerably better than either of the players that the Knicks are losing here. In some respects, that deal justifies this move on its own.
After all, the Knicks are a win-now team. They won a playoff series last season, and they look prepared to do the same in 2023-24. Of course, that’s not the only consideration that the Knicks have to make. Should they take on Grant’s contract?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
It’s debatable. Still, for what it’s worth, this team’s books are relatively clean. If the Knicks are willing to eat some salary to make a significant upgrade to their forward rotation without giving up assets, Grant could be their target.
Should the Blazers part with him at this price?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
We know this is an underwhelming career. Don’t blame us – blame Grant’s contract. With that said, this deal still benefits Portland. They’re flipping Grant’s contract for a pair of expiring deals.
Could they get some second-round picks for Grant’s contract elsewhere? Sure – if they were willing to absorb some (less) bad money. Is that worth their time? Shouldn’t the rebuilding Blazers be prioritizing salary relief?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks Updates
We think so. As disappointing as this may be, it’s a beneficial deal. Portland will have clean books moving forward, which will give them flexibility in their rebuild. In short, they’re moving off of a bad contract here – not losing a good trade chip.
