Latest trade buzz on Jerami Grant [Fischer]

[SUPERVILLAIN]

* Jerami Grant is being viewed by league personnel as the best player with the highest likelihood of being dealt prior to the Feb. 10 deadline.

The situation in Philadelphia hasn't changed since July: Daryl Morey's front office has thus far rebuffed any Simmons offer that hasn't included an All-Star-caliber partner for Joel Embiid who's on the Sixers' wish list.

The Pistons' package of Grant, Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk and a first-round pick, for example, was not met with much enthusiasm by Philadelphia brass.

* The Lakers, Trail Blazers, Knicks, Jazz, Wizards, Celtics, Pacers, Timberwolves and Kings have all signaled interest in the 27-year-old.

* Sources say Detroit is now asking for two first-round picks or one first-round pick plus a high-upside young player. That's a similar valuation Aaron Gordon garnered last season. Like Gordon at the time of his deal to Denver, Grant still has one year remaining on his contract following this season. Sources say Grant expects to sign a lucrative extension in the ballpark of four years, $112 million this offseason.

* For any team to sign off on a trade for Grant, they'll need assurances of his plans to re-sign this offseason. Grant also has little interest in joining a new situation where he doesn't feature as a primary offensive option, sources said.

* Several league personnel view Washington as a favorite to land Grant. He hails from the D.C. area, his father Harvey played for the franchise from 1988-93 and again from 1996-98. The Wizards' first-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr. also coached Grant as an assistant with the Nuggets.

It's difficult to imagine a deal structure that doesn't send either Deni Avdija or Rui Hachimura back to the Pistons. Montrezl Harrell's expiring $9.7 million contract can help make the salaries match, and Harrell has been considered available for trade.

* The Lakers' interest in Grant appears to be just that. A package of Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn likely won't pique Detroit's interest in this competitive market. Same for the Jazz, whose best offer featured Joe Ingles' expiring $12.4 million salary and a future first-round pick. Boston showed initial intrigue in Grant, but the Celtics were recently categorized to B/R as an unlikely destination.

* For Minnesota, only second-year forward Jaden McDaniels would be considered a young prospect to flip. The Timberwolves have all their first-round picks, and as B/R previously reported, Malik Beasley is known around the league as Minnesota's expendable piece for salary-matching purposes.

* Memphis has been a popular speculative trade partner for Detroit. But the Grizzlies are not expected to make a serious run at him at this time. "Pushing their chips in to get Grant would be the exact opposite of their moves so far under [general manager] Zach [Kleiman]," another assistant general manager said.

* Chicago still has one potential all-in move up its sleeve, as injured second-year forward Patrick Williams has a mountain of trade value despite being out for the season with a dislocated wrist. Williams was the Pistons' top 2020 NBA draft target at No. 7 before Chicago selected the Florida product at No. 4, and Weaver was known as a huge supporter.

The Bulls have three strong connections to Grant. General manager Marc Eversley overlapped with Grant in Philadelphia, head coach Billy Donovan coached Grant in Oklahoma City, and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was part of the Nuggets' brain trust that acquired Grant from the Thunder.

The on-paper fit appears quite clear here too. Grant could plug immediately into the Bulls' starting lineup between DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. By the time DeRozan's three-year contract expires after the 2023-24 season, any Grant extension would just be entering its second year.

For Chicago to move Williams, Karnisovas would need absolute confidence Grant is the final ingredient for a championship run. The front office has already mortgaged the majority of its future draft capital, and sending out Williams, Derrick Jones Jr. and the Blazers' protected 2022 first-rounder would lock the Bulls into an inflexible future. At this juncture, Chicago appears uncomfortable with that.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952559-he-fits-everywhere-inside-the-market-for-nba-trade-deadlines-grand-prize

[levon]

dude isn't nearly good enough to warrant that kind of money and offensive role

[amcoolio]

It would be a huge mistake to trade Patrick Williams for a win now piece.

[R-DAWG]

Part of me thinks the Bulls should go all-in with Patrick Williams for Grant. Roll out a starting lineup of Ball-LaVine-DeRozan-Grant-Vuc. Opportunities to go into the playoffs as a top seed don't grow on trees (Bulls haven't been there in 10 years), and as the Bulls fans well know windows can close quickly and a player landing the wrong way on a jump can swing a series. Williams is a nice prospect for sure, but he won't be at his peak while this current core has an open window.

The Washington piece is very interesting and goes with the build around Beal mentality. He's an upgrade over Harrell for sure, but this has the making of an expensive play-in team - which might be the ceiling of the Wizards if they super max Beal.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Bulls make a lot of sense.

[levon]

Williams is an overpay. the Pistons are using Aaron Gordon as a benchmark, who was also a massive overpay. buyers should be using Cam Reddish as the benchmark

[Richard4444]

Grant is a really good 2-way player.

To Chicago, he makes a lot of sense. But he will be the 4 option there.

[dirkforpres]

“Lakers have signaled interest”

Lol hard to believe Detroit isn’t interested in Russ or Deandre. Try calling back 7 years ago instead

[MotownMadness]

Good to hear

[SUPERVILLAIN]

I don't understand why Suns are never mentioned in this mix. Grant to Phoenix just makes too much sense.

Suns got several interesting young players (Jalen Smith, Cameron Johnson). Big salary filler (Dario Saric). And lots of picks. Come on Suns!

[MotownMadness]

Read on Twitter

[ImSlower]

Has the Detroit media and/or bloggers etc heard much from Grant's side of this? I thought he left Denver because he didn't want to be a #3 or 4 option. Are there reports that he's more willing to accept less touches on offense to play for a team built for a playoff run?

[Kurtz]

Grant also has little interest in joining a new situation where he doesn't feature as a primary offensive option, sources said.




The on-paper fit appears quite clear here too. Grant could plug immediately into the Bulls' starting lineup between DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. By the time DeRozan's three-year contract expires after the 2023-24 season, any Grant extension would just be entering its second year.

For Chicago to move Williams, Karnisovas would need absolute confidence Grant is the final ingredient for a championship run. The front office has already mortgaged the majority of its future draft capital, and sending out Williams, Derrick Jones Jr. and the Blazers' protected 2022 first-rounder would lock the Bulls into an inflexible future. At this juncture, Chicago appears uncomfortable with that.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2952559-he-fits-everywhere-inside-the-market-for-nba-trade-deadlines-grand-prize

Doesn't add up.

[Pinkyring]

He's expecting 28m a year? Is he on crack?

[Flash4thewin]

Williams is an overpay. the Pistons are using Aaron Gordon as a benchmark, who was also a massive overpay. buyers should be using Cam Reddish as the benchmark

It’s not an overpay, it’s what the market will pay.

[Bologna Smasher]

It would be a mistake for the Bulls to trade Patrick Williams at this point. Williams' potential upside has a lot more value to them than what Grant would bring to them right now. With DeRozan, LaVine & Vucevic already there, he's going to have to take a reduced role in the offense as well. That's not even factoring in the financials involved with bringing him in. I know it looks attractive to bring in that extra piece while they're thriving, but it's too short sighted.

Lakers don't have the assets unless they can pull another pick out of their ass.

No real reason for the Blazers to give up any real value (Simons & picks) right now since their season is pretty much already finished.

He would be a good fit on the Knicks, but I don't know if they have the pieces to do it unless they're willing to give up a couple picks. I don't think Mitchell Robinson and Toppin have a whole lot of value right now, especially Toppin.

Jazz would have to give up Ingles or Bogdanovic and I doubt the Pistons have much interest in them. Would have to be a bigger trade.

On paper, he looks like a good fit with the Celtics, but they're already having issues with ball movement with Tatum & Brown. Adding Grant (who doesn't want a reduced role) makes that even worse.

Pacers have the pieces, but I think the Pistons would rather re-route the guys they could bring in to another team. Similar situation to the Jazz.

Perfect fit on the Timberwolves, but I'm not sure a package around Beasley and McDaniels is enough.

Perfect fit on the Wizards as well. They also have the pieces to make it work. The Wizards should look to move Bertans as part of the trade as well if they have to include both Hachimura and Avdija + picks.

Like the fit on the Kings, but I'm not really interested in giving up any picks for him. His skill set is also a bit redundant on the roster as long as we have Harrison Barnes.

[John Murdoch]

Didnt think of washington ...i like that

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y7t4sn74

[R-DAWG]

Williams is an overpay. the Pistons are using Aaron Gordon as a benchmark, who was also a massive overpay. buyers should be using Cam Reddish as the benchmark

I think the benchmark is THT, Kendrick Nunn and the Lakers 2027 1st unprotected. Buyer's should be prepared to beat that offer if they want to land Grant.

[Duffman100]

Williams is an overpay. the Pistons are using Aaron Gordon as a benchmark, who was also a massive overpay. buyers should be using Cam Reddish as the benchmark

Why is Reddish the benchmark? Feels like two totally different situations.

[Richard4444]

Williams is an overpay. the Pistons are using Aaron Gordon as a benchmark, who was also a massive overpay. buyers should be using Cam Reddish as the benchmark

I think the benchmark is THT, Kendrick Nunn and the Lakers 2027 1st unprotected. Buyer's should be prepared to beat that offer if they want to land Grant.

Nunn is injured for 6 months with no timeline to return. His 2022/2023 deal is a player option. His value is next to none.

THT has potential. But right now, he is being overpaid considering his current production. 30/3 with the last year being a player option is a terrible contract. Assuming he improves next season, he will opt out and be a UFA again in 2023.

2027 LAL FRP pick can be great. But it's 5 years from now. Most Front Offices will get fired by then. They will help their substitutes in the job.