NBA Scout On Blazers Asking Lakers For 2 1st-Round Picks For Jerami Grant: ‘That Is Hilarious’

An NBA scout told Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily it’s “hilarious” that the Portland Trail Blazers asked the Los Angeles Lakers for two first-round picks for Jerami Grant.

“Joe Cronin asking for two first-rounders for Jerami Grant is hilarious,” the NBA scout said. “Portland traded one first for him and then gave him that terrible contract. Why would he be more valuable now than he was when they landed him two years ago? But it’s what you can do when you feel like the other team is desperate.”

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

A versatile forward, Grant will make $29.8 million next season. He signed a five-year, $160 million contract with the Blazers last July.

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 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.

The Lakers will not trade two first-round picks for Grant, who has never made an All-Star team. 

“If they get Grant, I am not sure they are that much better as a team,” one NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports. “It’s a bad contract. He’s a good shooter but he is not a very good defender. I am not sure he is that much better than Rui (Hachimura), so if you’re giving up Rui and a draft pick? I can’t see making that move. It’s making a trade just for the sake of making a trade, and that’s always unwise.”

The Lakers haven’t made any trades this offseason. They also haven’t signed anyone in free agency.