Lakers among teams pursuing Pistons’ Jerami Grant
The Los Angeles Lakers have started the season with a dismaying 15-13 record, but there is still hope that the best is still to come.
Injuries to key personnel like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn, among others, have set the team back from where they could be right now at full strength.
But even then, there are still concerns if the pieces on the roster are enough to win a championship. James has been carrying the load lately, even though Davis and Westbrook need to reduce the pressure on the shoulders of the soon-to-be 37-year-old forward.
It appears the Lakers front office is working the phones for a possible trade, such as for Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons. But Simmons isn’t the only name to monitor.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported L.A. is pursuing Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant:
Jerami Grant is one of the most sought-after players in a potential trade, with the Lakers and Trail Blazers among the teams pursuing the Pistons’ versatile forward, sources said. Grant will miss extended time with torn ligaments in his right thumb, but that is not expected to impact his trade market. Dozens of teams call the Detroit front office about Grant each week, and sources said the team is open to a possible deal.
If the Lakers pull the trigger for Grant, they will need to prepare to extend him when his contract expires in 2023:
Grant has one season remaining on his deal after this campaign and is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $112 million in the offseason. Interested teams understand Grant will command most of his maximum salary in an extension next summer, a scenario similar to when the Nuggets made the trade for Magic forward Aaron Gordon with a significant interest to complete a subsequent extension when the sides were eligible to negotiate.
Grant is currently averaging a salary of $20,002,500 a year, and he’s putting up 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 41.4% overall and 33.1% from deep this season.
He’s been Detroit’s No. 1 option since arriving there last year, though 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham has improved his play lately to help out Grant.
A potential deal might involve L.A. sending Talen Horton-Tucker ($10,260,000 average salary) and Kendrick Nunn ($5,125,000 average salary) to match the salaries.
The Pistons are currently a rebuilding team, and Horton-Tucker would provide them a young ball-handling wing to slot next to Cunningham.
That’s the best the Lakers can do to add Grant alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
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