The Pistons aren’t likely to make a series of major deals at this year’s trade deadline, but Jerami Grant looks increasingly like a candidate to be on the move, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, who hears from sources that contending teams are “routinely calling” Detroit to inquire on the veteran forward.
Edwards views Grant as the most realistic trade chip on the Pistons’ roster, since the team doesn’t seem interested in trading any of its top first- or second-year prospects and doesn’t have any other veterans who would generate as significant a return as Grant.
Within his story, Edwards considers what a Grant trade might look like, exploring scenarios involving Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, and Memphis. While those ideas are merely hypothetical for now, Edwards notes within his section on the Bulls that the Pistons were high on Patrick Williams during the 2020 draft — Williams, who is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to left wrist injury, could be available if Chicago wants to take another big swing at the trade deadline.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer also explores trade scenarios involving Grant, suggesting it makes sense for the Pistons to maximize their return for the versatile forward this season and further invest in their youth.
- Within the same story for The Ringer, O’Connor cites sources who say the Pacers will listen to trade offers heavy on draft picks, but would prefer to make deals for players who can help them get back to the playoffs. While Indiana is said to be open to trading Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and/or Caris LeVert, the team may be seeking players who are of “near-equal value” in the short term, says O’Connor.
- Long viewed as a candidate to be traded or bought out, Kevin Love has once again emerged as a valuable contributor for the Cavaliers in recent weeks, writes Joe Noga of Cleveland.com. Since December 1, the veteran forward has put up 18.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.3 APG in just 22.3 MPG (16 games). That would be Love’s highest scoring average since 2016/17 despite a career low in minutes.
Grant can score, but does he fit what the Bulls need.
IMO
It will be Carusa and Jones for Grant
NOT Williams
Caruso and Grant leave quite the hole IMO. They need Caruso as a lock down defender to take some playoff minutes. Jones is really undervalued on this team. The right piece back would negate him I suppose. Be nice to make something happen with Brown and some pics. Your not talking a great return.
I doubt AK-55 is going to trade PW, even for Grant, who I think would be a great fit. Grant is an elite multi-position defender, but PW is almost his equal already, with more upside, and he’s young and controllable at a RSC salary through the early years of LeVine’s extension. Then again, if its just about this year and next, anything is possible.
Love has been excellent!
Grant is a great player. But don’t really see how he’s any kind of fit for the Bulls unless there is a 3rd team involved. He’s not the player they need right now. And there is no way I see the Bulls trading Williams for a bad fit. They’ve built a great roster and trading Caruso as the other guy suggested is just a dumb idea and that’s being nice. Plus, he can’t even spell it.
Why don’t the bulls go after Robert Covington?
Blazers are likely to trade him considering he’s a free agent at the end of the season and he’s having a poor season.
Covington has a career 36% from 3, 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. This season he’s well below that but he hasn’t missed a free throw and maybe a change of scene is what’s needed.
Not to mention he’s a great help defender and decent 1 on 1 defender
Im worried the Bulls will try to make a move for Grant and lose some of the chemistry that really makes the team click. As it stands I don’t think the Bulls can beat the Nets or the Bucks in the playoffs but you’re always one injury away from contention
The Bulls match up just fine with the Nets and Bucks. The teams that give them fits are the teams with multiple bigs. Philly and Indiana.
Low level shot blocker/defender would be fine. They don’t need another 20 ppg scorer.
Just thought I’d explain to the Boneheads who say that the Bulls have Lavine’s Bird rights. If you go to Sportrac and look at the Bulls 2022-23 cap, and look down at Bird holds for Brown, DJJ, and even Dotson. You know whose Bird hold you don’t see? Zach Lavine. Huh
The Bulls have Lavine’s Bird rights. The following is from nbcsports.com, the flagship of the Bulls, that is 50% owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
Sep. 27, 2021
“ Should the Bulls’ campaign play out as internally expected, they’ll have an easy pitch for LaVine in 2022, replete with a maximum contract offer of five years in length and north of $200 million in value. Because the Bulls own LaVine’s Bird rights, they are the only suitor that will be able to offer five years in length, and should LaVine earn All-NBA honors, Chicago would also be the only suitor with the ability to offer him a supermax extension, which would begin with a salary worth 35 percent of the salary cap as opposed to 30.”
Well said Mr Princeton!
If CHI doesn’t max out ZLV they will officially be the dumbest team in the league next summer, as simple as!
Just checked Spotrac and you’re right that they’re not listed there for some reason. But that’s a mistake on their part — the Bulls definitely have LaVine’s Bird rights.
Grant to Bulls is interesting. That’s a bold move that can work. He’s basically now what Williams could be one day. And he’s only 27. Love for him to come to Knicks.
I can see him play the 4 with Bulls. He’s a good team player. That doesn’t need the ball to get 20. Wish the Knicks would go after him. Turner and Grant are two guys I’d like to go after. We got the assets to go after both. This years TD could be major. With Ben most likely going, leading the way.
But then what, with Grant. They would not be able to resign him with Lavine’s pending deal. I’d keep PWill and try for a lower level defensive minded big.
Would much rather get a PF/C like Sabonis or Turner from Indiana. Sabonis has more size than Grant and can rebound while scoring just as much (if not more). Turner is that big rim protector and shot blocker I’d love to see on the Bulls. He’d honestly be the best fit of the three IMO and likely wouldn’t cost as much as Sabonis.
For Sabonis, to make the money work, it’d have to be something like Williams, White and Jones for Sabonis and Martin. I think the Bulls have a 1st they can trade next year, don’t they?
You could also do that deal for Turner and Craig and likely have to give less in terms of picks, but who knows. I’d also point out though that Grant makes more than Sabonis and Turner, even if only by a million and two million respectively.