Grading the Trail Blazers’ mock trade
So far, in trade negotiations involving Grant, Cronin has made it clear that he wants two first-round picks in return, and he finally gets that in this deal. Although the Nuggets' 2025 first-round pick will likely be towards the end of the first round, the Lakers' 2029 first could be in the lottery.
James should (!?) be out of the league by then, while other teams with up-and-coming superstars like the Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mavericks with Luka Doncic, and hopefully the Blazers with Cooper Flagg take over as the juggernauts in the Western Conference. However, it's risky to bet long-term against the Lakers, as they will always be an attractive free-agency destination given their market, location, and franchise history.
The players the Blazers get back aren't very enticing. Jett Howard could help with the Blazers' lack of shooting but doesn't project to be a significant bench piece. Gabe Vincent is another undersized guard who lacks defense and is coming off of a down year in Los Angeles. But the one player that stands out is Jarred Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt fits the Blazers' rebuilding timeline at 25 years old and is on a reasonable contract for an average of $12 million a year with a player option in the 2027-28 season. Vanderbilt has shown flashes so far in his career as a versatile power forward but has been underutilized in Los Angeles, only playing 20 minutes a game last season. Portland would be a perfect opportunity for him to get significant minutes, especially with Grant out of the picture in this scenario.
The Blazers get off Grant's contract, receive two first-round picks (one of which has the potential to be in the lottery), and a promising role player in Vanderbilt to help round out their young core. After accounting for the fact that this trade will also help them have a worse record in the 2024-25 season, which will help their lottery odds in a stacked draft class, this is a three-team deal that seems reasonable for all parties involved.
Grade: B+