The Detroit Pistons are 8-30 on the year, good for 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
With the halfway mark of the 2021-22 NBA season rapidly approaching, we have now reached the stage where basement-dwelling teams start unloading assets to playoff squads.
The Pistons are that basement-dweller, and the asset they have to unload is Jerami Grant.
Grant is currently out with a thumb injury, but his imminent return has piqued the interest of numerous front offices.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, four teams currently have their eye on Grant: the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers.
“Several playoff teams are pursuing Pistons star forward Jerami Grant: The Wizards, Knicks, Blazers and Lakers among others,” he wrote.
“Grant is sidelined due to a UCL injury in his right thumb but Detroit will have a vast group of suitors for the 27-year-old. Grant, who is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $112 million this NBA offseason, is one of the most sought-after players this trade season.”
Grant is averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this year. While he’s unlikely to be able to maintain those numbers on a legit squad, his skillset will still mesh well with just about any one of those four teams.
This is not the first time that the Lakers, specifically, have been linked to Grant. Rumors persisted earlier this year, but ultimately nothing came to fruition. Maybe this time around everyone’s luck will improve.
The Lakers currently seem to have their eye on one big blockbuster trade that could turn their whole season around. But if it falls apart, don’t be surprised if they become even more serious contenders for Grant’s services before February.
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