The Los Angeles Lakers are linked with a series of moves right now, as they try to bounce back from a tumultuous start to the 2021/22 NBA season. The Purple and Gold traded for Russell Westbrook in the summer, and that move hasn’t paid off for them.
That’s why many people are urging the team to get rid of Russ and bring another star to team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis at Crypto.com Arena this campaign. In recent weeks, Jerami Grant and Ben Simmons have been linked with a move to Los Angeles. Some even said both players could make it to Southern California before the trade deadline.
While many think Grant would be a terrific addition to the Lakers, others think he’s not the piece they need right now. Former NFL player-turned-analyst Shannon Sharpe recently made a case against the Lakers trading for the Detroit Pistons players, citing his refusal to be a third-string in Denver behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1476220808246738952
“Here’s the thing about Jerami Grant. He left Denver because he didn’t want to be third filler for Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray,” Sharpe said on UNDISPUTED.
“He left for the same money to go Detroit and be top dog,” he continued. “Is he going to be okay being fourth dog when he didn’t want to be third dog? Those are the things the Lakers need to ask themselves. I get it, you get a young guy, 27, in the rotation he could score points, he’s good from the three-point line, he’s an okay defender, not great, but he’s okay.
“But those are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself. Is he going to be okay? Bron, AD, Russ, Jerami Grant when he didn’t want to be Joke, Murray, Jerami Grant.”
This is an interesting question and nobody has the answer to that. However, if he didn’t want to play behind Jokic and Murray, it’s not hard to imagine that he won’t like sharing touches with three superstars like James, Westbrook, and Davis.
Grant has uplifted his level in Motor City, drawing a lot of attention around the league. The Pistons are going through a rebuilding process where Cade Cunningham is expected to be their maximum figure. This could prompt Grant’s exit from Detroit and the Lakers could be a good destination for him. Yet, it’s unclear if he will be a good fit in Los Angeles or if he’ll be willing to sacrifice to win.
