The Los Angeles Lakers are aggressively seeking to bolster their roster with another star to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, their efforts to acquire veteran forward Jerami Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers have encountered a significant hurdle.
As international basketball takes the spotlight during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Lakers fans are anxiously watching to see if their team will make any more impactful offseason moves. Despite a disappointing postseason exit earlier this spring, the Lakers have been notably quiet in the offseason, limiting their activity to signing this year’s rookie class.
The Lakers have expressed interest in several high-profile players, with Grant emerging as a top target. The prospect of Grant joining forces with James and Davis has excited the fanbase, leading many to urge general manager Rob Pelinka to finalize a trade before the opportunity slips away.
However, the latest reports suggest that the Lakers’ pursuit of Grant is facing serious obstacles. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Trail Blazers are not keen on acquiring D’Angelo Russell, who is a likely candidate to be included in the trade package. Russell, who exercised his $18.6 million player option for the upcoming season, does not fit well into Portland’s plans.
Buha stated, “I’ve heard Portland doesn’t want D-Lo because they have a million guards anyway. It just doesn’t really make sense for them.” This sentiment reflects the Blazers’ current roster composition, with promising young guards like Scottie Henderson and Anfernee Simons poised to lead their backcourt for the foreseeable future.
Despite his strong performance during the 2023-24 regular season, where Russell averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.0 three-pointers per game, his postseason struggles have dampened his trade value. Russell’s performance in the Lakers’ first-round series against Denver was underwhelming, with averages of 14.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 38.4% shooting from the field.
On the other hand, Grant could provide the Lakers with the boost they need. Averaging 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season, Grant’s shooting splits were also impressive, with a career-best 40.2% from beyond the arc. This kind of production could potentially elevate the Lakers’ championship prospects.
However, acquiring Grant is complicated by Portland’s reported demand for two first-round picks from the Lakers. With Los Angeles only having two first-rounders available (2029 and 2031), and the cost of acquiring Grant—who is 30 and has a hefty contract—being steep, the Lakers are reluctant to meet this high price.
Given LeBron James’ advancing age and Anthony Davis’ career trajectory, Pelinka and the Lakers might be hesitant to deplete their future assets for a player like Grant. As the trade deadline approaches, the Lakers will need to weigh their options carefully and possibly explore other avenues to strengthen their roster.
With the Lakers currently tied for the ninth-best odds to win the 2024-25 NBA Finals on FanDuel Sportsbook, time is of the essence. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the Lakers can navigate these challenges and make a substantial move that could reshape their championship aspirations.
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