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The Lakers are the reputed front-runners to sign Jerami Grant from the Blazers, but their pursuit of the two-way wing has apparently met a stumbling block.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Blazers are unwilling to take on D’Angelo Russell’s $18.6 million contract in a trade that would send Grant to Los Angeles. Buha stated that the Blazers, who already have Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Dalano Banton on their roster, had no plan of adding another guard in Russell.
I’ve heard Portland doesn’t want D-Lo because they have a million guards anyway. So, it doesn’t really make sense for them,” Buha said on his “Buha’s Block” podcast. From a financial standpoint, Russell’s inclusion is critical for the Lakers to make the deal work, especially since they are reportedly against the idea of parting with Austin Reaves or prized rookie Dalton Knecht.
Furthermore, the Lakers will also have to include Rui Hachimura — owed $17 million in the 2024-2025 season — to make the finances work, besides parting with some draft capital. Speaking of draft capital, The Rose Garden Report noted earlier this month that the Blazers’ asking price for Grant is a minimum of two first-round draft picks. The Lakers — eligible to trade their 2029 and 2031 first-rounders — are unwilling to part with such a hefty package for Grant, per several insiders.
Grant has four years remaining on the five-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Blazers last year. As a result, the Lakers would get a great player for the long term, not just a transitory solution. Last season, the 30-year-old Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists for the Blazers, shooting 40.2 percent from deep. Aside from long-range shooting, Grant has proven to be a prototypical three-and-D player who can guard many positions on the court. He could alleviate a lot of the Lakers’ defensive woes by playing in the three or four spot with Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
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