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According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Portland Trail Blazers want two first-round picks for swingman Jerami Grant.
The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in trading for Grant but don’t want to trade two first-round picks.
Grant is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, the agent who represents Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Grant appeared in 54 games for the Blazers in 2023-24. He averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 45.1% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line.
The Trail Blazers are seeking two first-round picks in any trade involving Jerami Grant, per @jovanbuha (https://t.co/T3jtqy9mZD).
The Lakers have maintained interest in Grant, but they don’t currently appear willing to meet Portland’s asking price. pic.twitter.com/UDFw3eRuvt
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 28, 2024
Grant will make $29.8 million next season. He signed a five-year, $160 million contract with the Blazers last July.
The 30-year-old Grant has career averages of 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Blazers.
“They’re stubborn,” an NBA exec told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports about the Blazers. “Part of the job is to be stubborn, though. But part of the job is also seeing your mistakes and getting out of them. Grant was a mistake. Trading him now just to get out of that salary is the right thing to do, take whatever picks or young guys you can get.”
The Lakers hired former NBA guard JJ Redick as their new head coach. Redick signed a four-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $8 million per season with the Lakers, who fired Darvin Ham after two seasons.
Los Angeles lost to Denver in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.
The Nuggets also beat the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in four games.
The Blazers are rebuilding in the post-Damian Lillard era. They won only 21 games this past season.
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