Report: Lakers Interested In Jerami Grant And DeMar DeRozan

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Jerami Grant and DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan is an unrestricted free agent. He’s not expected to return to the Chicago Bulls. 

Grant, meanwhile, is on the Portland Trail Blazers, who are in rebuild mode. The forward has the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) as Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. 

“DeRozan, a California native, has previously been linked to a homecoming with the Lakers in free agency,” Scotto reported. “Now, the Lakers are once again said to have exploratory interest in him, league sources told HoopsHype. … In addition to DeRozan, another notable player the Lakers have interest in besides DeRozan is Blazers forward Jerami Grant, league sources told HoopsHype.

“Grant, represented by Klutch Sports Group with Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, has shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range and averaged 20.7 points the past two years in Portland. Grant’s ability to guard up to four positions is also intriguing.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. They fired Darvin Ham as head coach and hired former NBA guard JJ Redick. 

DeRozan appeared in 79 games for the Bulls in 2023-24. The USC product averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 33.3% from 3 and 85.3% from the free-throw line.  

DeRozan signed a three-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. 

DeRozan has career averages of 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Toronto Raptors, Spurs and Bulls. He’s made three All-NBA teams and six All-Star teams. 

DeRozan, who was born and raised in Compton, California, almost joined the Lakers in 2021 before LAL acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. 

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, Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Blazers.