NBA Trade Proposal Sends Jerami Grant To Cavs, Darius Garland To Trail Blazers

When Evan Mobley won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award, it triggered a clause in his contract that called for him to increase the first-year salary of his rookie-scale extension from 25 to 30% of the salary cap.

As a result, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now projected to have $219 million in salary for the 2025-26 season and be over the second apron.

To get under the second apron, Rob Perez of Bleacher Report proposed that the Cavaliers trade Darius Garland to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant, the 11th pick in this year’s draft and a 2027 first-round top-five protected pick. 

Garland will make $39,446,090 next season, while Grant will make $32,000,001.

The Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games. They lost Games 1, 2 and 5 at home after having the best record in the East this year. 

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. 

Garland averaged 20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Cavaliers this season while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 87.8% from the free-throw line. He turns 26 in January. 

Meanwhile, Grant averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trail Blazers while shooting 37.3% from the field, 36.5% from 3 and 84.9% from the foul line. He turns 32 in March.