The Los Angeles Lakers have been relatively silent this NBA offseason, due much in part to the fact that they don’t exactly have much financial flexibility.
They do, however, have the ability to make a trade to tweak their roster, and that is exactly what Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley is suggesting.
Buckley proposes that the Lakers send D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino and a couple of draft picks to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Duop Reath.
Grant would obviously be the big get in this deal for Los Angeles.
The veteran would add a much-needed wing for the Lakers, who are relatively slim in that department once you get beyond LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Grant would also increase LA’s defensive ceiling, especially with a horrid defender in Russell outgoing in the trade package.
The 30-year-old averaged 21 points and 3.5 rebounds over 33.9 minutes per game with the Blazers this past season, shooting 45.1 percent from the floor, 40.2 percent from three-point range and 81.7 percent from the free-throw line.
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Grant’s free-throw rate is particularly attractive, as he logged 5.8 free-throw attempts a night in 2023-24.
Were Grant’s numbers inflated on a terrible Portland team? Sure, but there is no denying that he did it efficiently and would be a welcomed addition to a Lakers roster that is in need of a splash.
It seems pretty clear that Los Angeles’ championship window is closing, if it hasn’t slammed shut already.
James turns 40 years old in December, and while Anthony Davis did just have a healthy season for a change, he is still a massive injury risk.
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Plus, the Lakers’ supporting cast simply isn’t good enough to contend with the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference. Los Angeles also just can’t seem to beat the Denver Nuggets.
The only hope for LA is a major roster change, and while Grant isn’t a superstar or even an All-Star, his presence could at least help the Lakers throw different looks at opponents. And again, Los Angeles would be better defensively with Grant aboard.
Even still, the potential addition of Grant probably would not be enough to put the Los Angeles Lakers over the top.
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