The Portland Trail Blazers are still trying to find their way post-Damian Lillard.
The team had the worst season out of the 15 Western Conference squads last season, but it gave the team’s young core time to get to know each other and develop. Moreover, they drafted an exciting young big in Donovan Clingan to become the defensive anchor the Blazers have badly needed since LaMarcus Aldridge.
However, the team’s commitment to a rebuild means that the team may have to let go of some talented players. Anfernee Simons is a surprising name on the rumor mill, but shipping him off in exchange for draft picks and valuable role players could help the Blazers develop their young core even more.
Jerami Grant is another player who could be on the way out. The forward has been a reliable contributor to every team he’s been a part of, though he’s not seen much success when it comes to playoff appearances.
He’s linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the two parties are reportedly struggling to find a perfect middle ground. However, Rui Hachimura may turn out to be the great equalizer they’ve been looking for.
Analyst believes the Portland Trail Blazers will want Rui Hachimura for Jerami Grant
The Lakers are reportedly offering D’Angelo Russell for Grant’s services, but Portland’s abundance of guards makes him an undesirable player for Joe Cronin’s team. Instead, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Levine believes that the team would be more than willing to take on Rui Hachimura to replace Grant on their roster.
He explained why the Japanese forward is a desirable trade piece for Portland:
Hachimura has shown major improvement being with the Lakers and he has worked on his 3-point shot of late. Last season, he averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
He shot 42.2 percent from beyond the 3-point line and could be a solid addition to the Portland lineup. Hachimura is also years younger than Grant so he would fit the timeline with the other young players on the team.
The trade makes perfect sense for both parties: the Lakers get a proven contributor who can help them chase their 18th championship banner, and the Blazers make their already young core even more future-proof.
Whether this prospective trade happens is anyone’s guess, though.
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