The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to make a major move in the NBA off-season, but as long as their huge fanbase waits, acquiring Jerami Grant has been in barbershop discussions. The Portland Trail Blazers forward is a very serviceable two-way player, and many are weighing in on the pros and cons of acquiring him.
In an online interview, Jovan Buha, a Lakers insider, discussed what would happen if the team acquired Grant from the Trail Blazers.
“The thing I like most about Jeremy Grant is I think he could play the three or the four. He theoretically can. I don’t think he’s quite the same level as a defender as he was a few years ago before he broke out in Detroit. He wanted to take that step and he proved he can be a number one or number two option,” said Buha.
The journalist also feels Grant can help maintain the team’s momentum, especially when LeBron James and Anthony Davis sit on the bench.
“If you slot him in as like the number three or number four guy on this roster and you can imagine he gets the second unit reps,” Buha pictures. “You’re gonna be the guy with like we’re going to have these second unit shifts where for three to six minutes a half. You are the guy and we’re running the offense through you.”
The risks of getting Jerami Grant to play for the Los Angeles Lakers
Jerami Grant is indeed a stud, and his presence with the Lakers, along with Davis and James, will create an impact. However, Grant’s contract will be difficult to absorb as he is set to earn $96 million in the next three years and has a player option worth $36 million in the fourth year.
In getting Grant, the Lakers will have a hard time getting other quality players, risking depth in the long run. They are just an injury away from washing away another season, and LeBron James is getting a year older and nearing his retirement.
In his recent season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Grant was able to be the team’s anchor, averaging 22.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 three-pointers. However, he only played 54 games, and the Lakers would need their third option to play more with James’s age and Davis’s fragility.
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