All offseason long, rumors were running rampant about the Portland Trail Blazers and the future of franchise star Damian Lillard. Many thought he would end up being traded, but the Blazers were able to keep him in town. Since then, Lillard has made it very clear that he is still loyal to Portland, but that he would like to be able to compete with the elite teams in the NBA.
Unfortunately for the Trail Blazers, the way their roster is currently set up is not going to cut it. In order to become a legitimate NBA Finals contender, Portland will likely have to make a move or two.
One potential move would be pursuing a trade for Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant. If the Trail Blazers want to bring in a new kind of weapon that they don't currently have, Grant could be the ideal fit. Not only would he provide scoring, but he is a solid defender and rebounder as well, which are two areas that the Trail Blazers would love to improve as well.
So far this season with the Pistons, Grant has averaged 17.9 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals. He has shot 40.9 percent from the floor overall and has knocked down 33.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. Last season, however, Grant put up averages of 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from the 3-point line.
Grant's numbers have gone down a bit this season, but a lot of that has to do with the new look that the Pistons have. They are also a team that has played very poorly all season long.
All of that being said, let's take a look at a potential trade that could land Grant with the Trail Blazers and why it could be the perfect move for them to make.
Trail Blazers Receive: Jerami Grant
Pistons Receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little
This would be a move that would signal to Lillard that the Trail Blazers are going all in on winning now. Trading away both Simons and Little would give up two of the talented young players that Portland still has on the roster.
However, with the Trail Blazers not giving up CJ McCollum, they would be adding to their win-now core. A group of Lillard, McCollum, Grant, Powell, and the rest of the supporting cast could be very tough to beat. Portland would add a player who can slash to the rim and finish, while also being capable of stepping out and knocking down the 3-point shot.
At 27 years of age, the Trail Blazers would be adding a long-term piece to their core as well. Grant will have another season left on his current deal after the 2021-22 NBA season. That would give the Blazers this year and next year to compete with their new core.
Should this move not work, the Trail Blazers could allow Grant to walk in free agency next offseason. That would open up some cap room for them to work with as well. Portland could view this as a win-win scenario to keep Lillard happy while still maintaining the ability to create cap room in the future.
Why would the Pistons pull the trigger on this deal without getting a first-round pick back in return? Quite simply, the additions of Simons and Little would add to their young core. Detroit is building around Cade Cunningham now and will be interested in acquiring any talent that could fit around him moving forward.
Both teams would be getting exactly what they want out of this trade. Portland would be adding a player who can help them compete right away, while the Pistons would be moving a player who doesn't fit the long-term mold of their rebuild. Detroit would be getting two young players who could end up being solid role players for them moving forward.
Granted, this is simply an idea and there have been no connections between the Trail Blazers and Grant. But if Portland is still looking to make a big move to keep Lillard engaged and happy, the franchise should look no further than this option.
Grant could also welcome a trade from the Pistons to the Trail Blazers. He had good reasons for signing with Detroit, but things aren't going well on the court right now. He would go from being a veteran on a rebuilding team to a key player on a potential contender in the Western Conference. Everything aligns for this trade to be a perfect situation for all parties involved.
Expect to hear Jerami Grant's name mentioned leading up to the NBA trade deadline. The Trail Blazers may not pursue him, but it would make a lot of sense for them to do so.
Follow Us
Subscribe