5. The Lakers finally get Jerami Grant
The Los Angeles Lakers tried trading for Jerami Grant at the deadline and came to the harsh reality that Talen Horton-Tucker is not worth anything as a trade chip. Can’t really blame any team for not wanting THT, he is making over $10 million a season and was one of the worst offensive players in the entire league last season.
Pincus now suggests another way for the Lakers to potentially get Jerami Grant this summer. Pincus does not suggest an actual package, but based on the money, the Lakers would get Grant, Kelly Olynyk and Hamidou Diallo for Westbrook.
The Lakers would have to send multiple first-round picks to get this deal done. One first-round pick would not be enough and that could keep the Lakers from ultimately wanting to do this trade. However, even if LA was willing to trade two first-round picks, this trade is unrealistic.
While the Detroit Pistons may not want to extend Grant they can still get far more for him on the trade market than a salary dump for Russell Westbrook. This is the guy that Detroit refused to trade with offers a few months ago and suddenly they would trade him in a package for Westbrook?
Plus, why would the Pistons want to bring Westbrook in when they just spent the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft on a point guard in Cade Cunningham? Westbrook would only hinder his development.
Verdict: Fiction