We’re now a full month into the NBA’s official free agency and player movement period, and still, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t brought in any outside players.
At best, their roster is only about as good as it was this past season when they won 47 regular-season games and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets. While many have opined that Los Angeles is no better than a play-in tournament team, a more rational analysis reveals that it is likely a legitimate playoff team.
Of course, L.A. doesn’t seem to be a championship-caliber team by any means. Therefore, it has reportedly expressed interest in Portland Trail Blazers two-way forward Jerami Grant.
While a report indicated he could cost two future first-round draft picks, NBA reporter Jake Weinbach said on X (formerly Twitter) that an offer could consist of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish, as well as the Lakers’ 2029 first-round draft pick (h/t The Cold Wire).
If the Lakers pursue Jerami Grant, I think a trade offer would most likely revolve around Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and a 2029 first-round pick.
Grant would be more than an ideal target as the Lakers continue to poke around the trade market.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) July 28, 2024
That looks like a reasonable offer for Grant, a 6-foot-7, 30-year-old forward who averaged 21.0 points a game and shot 40.2% from 3-point range this past season. He’s also regarded as a very good and versatile defender, and the Lakers certainly need such a wing player who has length and athleticism.
Hachimura is a good player, but his production is inconsistent and his defense is limited. Vincent is a strong defender but limited offensively, and Reddish is very, very limited overall.
The question is whether Grant would move the needle enough. But if he would, such a trade would allow the Lakers to still deal D’Angelo Russell and their 2031 first-rounder for another impact player.