Ranking 4 lucrative trade packages for Blazers to deal Jerami Grant
By Reese Kunz
No. 2: Lakers give into GM Joe Cronin's asking price
Grant to Lakers
This trade idea may be the best of the "realistic" offers. In this mock proposal, the Blazers acquire the Lakers' 2029 and 2031 first-round picks. If a deal like this ever comes to fruition, those picks could be protected, whether it's the top three or something else entirely. Another factor to consider is that the Lakers' franchise history, location, and overall market could attract another top free agent to keep them relevant by the time 2029 comes around.
Despite this, it's an attractive pairing of draft picks. Part of what makes this deal so appealing is that LeBron James is 39 years old, and Anthony Davis is known to be injury-prone throughout his career; this is also assuming James, who ages better than the wine he drinks, is retired by then.
Gabe Vincent projects to be more of a salary filler, given his poor play last season and the Blazers' plethora of up-and-coming guards. Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt are underrated forwards who don't possess elite upside but would still be serviceable role players in the Blazers' rebuilding plans.
Grant would be a solid third star for the Lakers to pair with James and Davis to give them a puncher's chance of making a deep playoff run. They owe James the opportunity to win another ring in Los Angeles, but it's a matter of how much of their future they are willing to sacrifice. Blazers' GM Joe Cronin's asking price is reportedly two first-round picks, which could be too steep for Los Angeles, especially since Grant wouldn't be a needle mover in terms of making them a favorite to come out of the West.