Discussing the Jerami Grant situation on his latest Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested that Grant’s agents provided the Pistons with a handful of preferred destinations in the event their client is traded.
“I was told his representation came to the Pistons and said ‘If you’re going to trade him, here’s a list of teams we would be interested in going to play for,'” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM).
The Pistons have a good relationship with Grant, so if they get multiple trade offers they like, I imagine they’ll try to get something done with one of the teams on his list. However, as Windhorst notes, the Pistons still aren’t sure whether they’ll move Grant at all, let alone to one of his preferred landing spots.
Here are a few more notes on the 2021/22 NBA trade market:
- In that same Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said that John Wall is working out in Miami, away from the Rockets, as the team continues to survey his trade market. Although Houston has had some conversations about Wall, most of those scenarios are viewed as “pie in the sky,” according to Spears, who adds that the club views a swap involving Russell Westbrook as the most realistic option for Wall at this point. During his conversation with Spears, Windhorst stated that the Rockets guard isn’t interested in losing any money in a buyout agreement.
- Already viewed as a strong defender, Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith has expanded his offensive game this season, writes Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News. Finney-Smith has taken on more ball-handling responsibilities, and his scoring average of 10.3 PPG would be a career high. Besides benefiting the Mavs on the court, Finney-Smith’s development has increased his value on the trade market, Caplan observes. It also likely puts him in line for a bigger payday when he reaches free agency this summer, which the Mavs and any potential suitor will have to take into account as they weigh possible deals.
- Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype took an in-depth look at what each NBA team could – and should – do at the February 10 trade deadline.
If Wall has zero interest giving up ANY money in a buyout, this “Free John Wall” thing is hilarious. I understand him not wanting to give up money, but no one will trade for him. No team would just cut him. There’s no upside to doing so.
They could just let him play for the money, that’s kinda what both sides signed up for and are contractually suppose to be doing.
It was something that was agreed to. I can see both sides. But with Wall wanting to play, rightfully so, the Rockets are just going to stand pat and go with the young guys. No reason for them to play someone that has no future with the team, has zero trade value and will likely help you win more games that you realistically want. Just the reality.
I changed the wording of that item from “giving up” to “losing,” since my assumption is that he’d be willing to give up what he could get back on a new contract, but no more than that. So if he learned that another team was interested in signing him to a one-year, $8MM deal next season, he’d probably be open to giving up $8MM in a buyout. Again, this is just my assumption, but that’s how these things usually work.
Thanks for the clarification! That makes sense for sure. I’m sure him and the Rockets are $10-15 million or more apart in buyout talks.
Which teams are on Grants list?
If they really want to trade Wall, they will have to play him. It is hard to tell if he still has anything left. Certainly if he can still play he might help a contender. But not without a buyout or reduction. He could end up the Bobby Bonilla of basketball.
I can’t believe Russ still has fans that think he’s a star I’m just as astonished wall has fans that still think he’s a star ! It’s time to let them both go from their hearts remember the great times but move on and become ja morant fans now lol
Grant to NY ……. Basketball Gods are lining up. We need something big.
Where would Grant play?? RJ and Randle are entrenched as the 3/4
#FreeOptimusDime
I don’t think HOU is sitting around hoping Wall will give up a certain $$ amount (because he’ll get in a post buyout contract or not). If that was their end game (knocking down the buyout amount), Wall would be playing.
They’re treating the contract as separate from the player. They’ll use it in a deal over the summer as an expiring contract, or, if they can’t, they’ll release him at that point (when they’ll know whether it’s advisable to stretch).