The Portland Trail Blazers entered the offseason with the intention of trading away some of their veteran players. So far, they have only traded veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Washington Wizards, but they still have other players, like veteran forward Jerami Grant, who could be on the move.
Grant has attracted considerable interest from around the league, but the main hurdle is his substantial contract. He is set to earn $29.7 million for the upcoming season and has four more years left on his deal, with his salary rising each year, peaking at $36.4 million in the final year when he will be 33.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has suggested several trade scenarios involving some of the league’s more challenging contracts, including Grant. In one proposed deal involving the Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers—who have been heavily linked with Grant this summer—Portland Trail Blazers would receive guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Jarred Vanderbilt, forward Maxwell Lewis, and a 2029 first-round pick from the Lakers.
Though this package might not seem extraordinary at first glance, it could actually be quite valuable for the Portland Trail Blazers. Russell’s expiring contract could provide flexibility at the trade deadline or in the offseason, potentially freeing up cap space or yielding further assets. Vanderbilt, who recently signed a contract extension with the Lakers, has shown significant defensive improvement and could add energy off the bench for Portland. Lewis, a promising young forward whom the Lakers traded up for in the 2023 NBA Draft, could be a noteworthy asset for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 2029 first-round pick is the most intriguing part of the deal. Given the age of the Lakers’ star players, the value of this pick could rise if the Lakers’ performance declines over the next few years.
As the trade rumors involving Grant continue, particularly with the Lakers, there is still ample time for a deal to be finalized before training camp begins.
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