Report: Lakers Trying To Acquire Blazers’ Jerami Grant

According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to acquire Jerami Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Grant is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, the agent who represents Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Blazers are in rebuild mode, so Grant is better suited to play for a contender. 

I’m told the Lakers and Trail Blazers have been in consistent talks on a deal for Jerami Grant. I wouldn’t call it particularly imminent but the sides have definitely been active most of today.

— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) June 30, 2024

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.

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. 

“How long Russell remains a Laker is another matter altogether,” Buha wrote. “After failing to trade Russell ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, the Lakers are expected to be aggressive in pursuing Russell-centric trades, according to league and team sources. Russell’s expiring contract immediately becomes one of Los Angeles’ more valuable trade assets, particularly for salary-matching purposes.”

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.

The Lakers went 47-35 in 2023-24. They lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat LA in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.