Report: Lakers Not Willing To Trade First-Round Pick For Blazers’ Jerami Grant

According to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in trading for Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant.

However, the Lakers don’t want to trade a first-round pick for Grant. 

“The Lakers can trade two future first-round picks, in 2029 and 2031, but would not give up either for Grant,” Deveney wrote. “The Blazers? The approach is they’re trading a star and want both Lakers picks. Perhaps as the summer wears on, the Blazers will have no choice but to recognize that.”

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.

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 Deveney 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.

According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are shopping D’Angelo Russell after the guard picked up his 2024-25 player option worth $18.7 million.