Lakers rumors: Pros and cons of Lakers potentially trading for Jerami Grant
The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the better part of the 2024 offseason being involved in trade rumors that have thus far failed to materialize. A healthy portion of those incessant reports have centered around a potential trade for Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant.
It's an intriguing proposition, but as the Lakers weigh their options, there's more than meets the eye as far as a potential trade for Grant is concerned.
Los Angeles' interest in Grant was initially reported by Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports. Fischer broke the news ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, meaning it's been more than a month since the Lakers' desire to trade for the 30-year-old sharpshooter was first revealed.
Despite the amount of time that's passed, Grant continues to be presented as a viable trade option for the Lakers to consider.
One of the factors influencing that belief is Grant being signed to Klutch Sports, which is run by longtime LeBron James friend and affiliate Rich Paul. If a trade were to go through, Grant would become the fifth Klutch Sports client on the Lakers' roster, joining Anthony Davis, Bronny James, LeBron James, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The question is: Should the Lakers go through with adding Grant via a trade that offers reason for intrigue and skepticism in nearly equal measure?
Pro: 3-Point Shooting
The Lakers finished the 2023-24 regular season ranked No. 24 in three-point field goals made. Much of that could be attributed to coaching, as Los Angeles was also No. 8 in three-point field goal percentage and No. 28 in three-point field goals attempted.
True as that may be, it would behoove the Lakers to improve its three-point shooting via offseason acquisitions—and Grant certainly fits the bill.
Grant has knocked down 38.2 percent of his three-point field goals over the past five seasons. That figure has jumped to 40.2 percent between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, with a more than adequate sample size of 635 attempts.
That level of proficiency from beyond the arc could transform the Lakers on offense, especially given the fact that Grant is a forward.
With Grant, Rui Hachimura, and LeBron James, Los Angeles would have three forwards who shot 40.0 percent or better from three-point range in 2023-24. That would be a powerful advantage. Even if the team were forced to part with Hachimura, it would maintain a degree of skill-level continuity.
The Lakers desperately need to improve as a three-point shooting team, and Grant is one of the best shooters in the NBA. On that level, it's a perfect match.