Jerami Grant could be a massive asset to a contending team as a complete 3-and-D wing who can score and defend at a very high level. He hasn’t played Playoff basketball since 2020, but that could change next season, with NBA Finalists Dallas Mavericks looking to acquire the 30-year-old, according to Ian Begley.
“Teams have tons of conversations about potential trades at this point in the league calendar. Several teams, including the Mavs, have checked in on Jerami Grant’s situation in Portland. Grant, 30, is entering the second season of a five-year, $190 million contract with the Trail Blazers.”
Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season with the Trail Blazers. The team tanked from the opening tip of the season, with Grant missing a lot of time due to injuries as well as the Blazers’ tanking intentions. He’s entering the second year of the five-year, $160 million contract he signed last season, making his salary challenging to accommodate under the new salary cap rules.
The Mavericks addressed their big-man deficiencies over the last season with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Adding a scoring wing is the natural next step for the franchise. Derrick Jones Jr. is a phenomenal defender but his lack of scoring was exposed in the NBA Finals, while P.J. Washington is an inconsistent scorer who relies on hot shooting for his production.
Jerami Grant Might Be The Final Piece For The Mavericks
If the Mavericks acquire Jerami Grant for a hypothetical package that includes Tim Hardaway Jr and Josh Green as the only players headed out, it would be a massive short-term win for the franchise regardless of the draft picks they send out.
Running a lineup of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jerami Grant, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II would give the Mavericks arguably the best starting five in the Western Conference. If they can somehow retain DJJ in free agency, the Mavs would become one of the most versatile teams in the NBA. But basketball isn’t played on paper, and there are concerns the Mavs need to monitor if they make a deal like this.
Grant hasn’t played winning basketball in five seasons, proving he isn’t a player who can be relied upon as a No. 1 or No. 2 option on a winning team. However, he’s had the usage and status of a star at his last two stops, missing the Playoffs as Damian Lillard’s co-star before Lillard forced his way out of the franchise.
Jerami will need to refocus his style of play to enhance what Doncic and Irving can do as the team’s star backcourt and primary scoring options. Grant’s main asset will have to be defense, especially if he’s replacing the high-activity DJJ in the starting lineup. Hustling is key for the Mavs’ defensive success, and we haven’t seen Grant play with that quality since he was on the Denver Nuggets.
In terms of skill set, Grant would arguably be one of the top wing options for the Mavs this summer. Mikal Bridges or Lauri Markkanen would be superior options, but it doesn’t look like the Mavs have the assets for either player, so zeroing in on Grant could be a great move for the franchise.
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