Report: Blazers want 2 1st-round picks from the Lakers in exchange for Jerami Grant

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly looking to get two first-round picks from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Jerami Grant, according to Sean Highkin.

The Lakers are interested in Grant and tons of other players.

The Lakers are showing interest in Kyle Kuzma, per @AnthonyIrwinLA

“Sources say the Lakers have held trade talks with the Portland Trail Blazers about Jerami Grant, the Brooklyn Nets about Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Toronto Raptors about Bruce Brown and the… pic.twitter.com/MJ0ATCoCLn

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 3, 2024

However, they reportedly aren’t willing to give up what the Blazers are asking for.

“Jerami Grant can play, he is a shooter, he is a good, active defender when he is engaged, he is going to do a lot of things that help your team,” one NBA exec told Heavy Sports. “But he is a third option. He has some big numbers the last few years, but he has done it on terrible teams. No one is going to make a big trade for a guy who gives you 20 (points) on a bad team and 13 (points) on a good one.

“Not with his contract. He is going to make $30 (million) next year $32 the year after that. Then he has two more years. You can’t pay your third option $34, 35 million. If Portland wants the Lakers, the [Miami] Heat, any of these teams to take him, they’ve got to recognize that.”

Would Grant fit on a contender?

Feb 23, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers small forward Jerami Grant (9) dribbles the ball past Denver Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

There’s no doubt that Grant is a solid two-way player, having averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent shooting from 3-point range.

However, there are some concerns about whether or not he’d accept a lesser role on a better team. Over the past four seasons, Grant has put up bigger numbers on teams that haven’t seen that much collective success.

So, that’s something to keep in mind when thinking about any potential Grant trades this offseason. He has three guaranteed years left on his deal with a player option worth $36.4 million for the 2027-28 season.

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