Jerami Grant‘s name was prominently mentioned in trade rumors prior to last month’s deadline. More recently, a report from The Athletic claims that the Trail Blazers will make a strong push for the Pistons forward in trade talks this summer.
On that subject, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and The Athletic’s James Edwards III opined on a HoopsHype podcast that the deal will happen this summer. Grant, who will be entering the final season of his three-year contract, would plug a major hole at power forward for the Blazers. A first-rounder would likely be required in Portland’s package for the Pistons to make such a move, though Scotto isn’t convinced it would necessarily be a high lottery pick this season.
Edwards speculates that where the Pistons land in the lottery will impact their decision on Grant. If they’re able to select Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Keegan Murray, or Chet Holmgren, they’d be more inclined to deal him.
Scotto and Edwards also discussed a number of other Pistons-related issues:
- The acquisition of Marvin Bagley III from Sacramento has gone well thus far and Edwards believes both parties are interested in a multi-year deal. Bagley will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Pistons view him as a second-unit standout due to his defensive shortcomings, Edwards adds.
- Detroit isn’ ready to give up on point guard Killian Hayes, their 2020 lottery pick, says Edwards. Settling in as a reserve, Hayes has shown progress as a defender and his passing skills are superior.
- The Pistons will likely make a push for free agents Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson this summer, according to Scotto. He and Edwards agree that Detroit is less likely to go after top RFAs like Deandre Ayton or Miles Bridges.
- Holmgren would probably top the Pistons’ draft wish list with Smith next in line, per Edwards.
The Pistons, if they can nail this next top pick, should be in a position to be on the rise. Regardless, who they draft, I think they should just keep Grant, but if they draft Holmgren, idk they might want to prioritize more outside shooting and versatile multi-level scorers to pair with their new, excellent young core of Cunningham, Holmgren, Bey, and Stewart.
If they kept Grant, it could make the team almost too defensively oriented, and might leave them with a lack of talented creators on offense…They’ll likely have that hole regardless though, unless they address it in free agency, so they could just be better off staying with Grant, adding some bench shooters, and then seeing what their core and complimentary pieces are missing going forward into the following season…
Either way, whether it is Smith or Holmgren, this Pistons squad would really start to look dangerous in another year or two of development and learning to play cohesively…
They are DEFINITELY going to be a team worth keeping an eye on moving forward if they’re able to land either a prominent SG from this draft, or a stud like Smith/Holmgren..The SGs from this draft seem to carry over alot more risk than those two though, so they need to just pick BPA regardless of their needs..
I think Jaden Ivey is going to end up being the best player in this draft class. He’d be perfect next to Cade as Cunningham could take on the bigger perimeter threat.
I agree. I want that guy big time. He’s my favorite player to fit in with the Pistons. The Pistons have to stay in the top 4 to get him.
Jaden Ivey was the exact player I had in mind when picturing their perfect compliment with Cunningham, Bey, Stewart, and Grant. They’d have one of the best up and coming starting fives I’ve seen in quite awhile.
Even still, to be competitive, they would have to hit free agency to increase this team’s overall talent level and depth. Let’s say they keep Hayes as the backup PG off the bench, and they keep Bagley III, as they should, really the only other role players that even belong on a contending team’s roster are maybe Diallo, Frank Jackson, Olynyk, Isaiah Livers, and maybe Corey Joseph…
Quite frankly, the only reason I’d even say to keep Diallo, Livers, Jackson, and Hayes is primarily cause their being young still, and they have the possibility to grow with this core.
Still though, idk, if you have a 2ndary rotation of Hayes, Jackson, Diallo, Bagley, and Olynyk or Livers really where is the offense coming from in that second group, other than primarily with Bagley.
Besides Ivey, if they’re going to begin a climb towards being a perennial contender, they’re going to really need to add another scoring guard/wing off the bench as well…
If they can add that 6th man type to combine with Bagley III and Ivey, then I think they could have a very strong balance of offensive and defensive players that could really vault them into the playoffs for the foreseeable future…
Let’s say they draft Ivey, and then they hit free agency by signing Seth Curry…They could be pretty dang good even next season..
Regardless of all my speculation and excitement for this young team, the fact is that their future is EXTREMELY BRIGHT!! Two or three years from now we could be looking at this Pistons team completely different!! However, this is a PIVOTAL time for this franchise moving forward, and they can either make or break this rebuild if they don’t play their cards correctly!!
My bad, Curry is still under contract..I was looking at the incorrect list if free agents…lol Moron..
Is see what Portland has to offer for Grant, Bagley would be fine for the PF spot.
I don’t want Holmgren at all. That skinny fram of his isn’t going to fill out. He will get pushed around and he’s not athletic. He can shoot and block shots and that’s okay but not for a top 5 pick. Hard Pass.
Also, Chets father had MAJOR knee problems in his early 20s that ended his career in bball.
I don’t follow college ball much but, sorry to say, of the little I’ve seen of Chet Holmgren, he looked passive & too thin. Hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t take a chance on drafting him w my top choice. Hope Chet proves me wrong.
I don’t want Homlgren. Even if he gains 40 pounds, he would only be 230. They need a young power forward.
id like to see Ayton on the Pistons. especially with their new jerseys next year
Cunningham,Bey,Grant,Ayton would be a solid core. just need some vets and they could be a darkhorse play in team next year
I was thinking the Pistons should draft Jaden Ivey this off-season, and then build around their core to go ahead and make a playoff push, but the 2022 free agent class is not very good at all..
They would be alot better off just continuing to grow their core along with Ivey, and seeing which of their younger rotation players can step up, and then the 2023 free agent class would be alot better and easier to use to fill in their holes to truly contend.
Plus, at that point the team chemistry would be better, and then you can know whether to move forward with guys like Hayes, Jackson, Livers, Lee, etc. or whether to replace those players by using another pick and through free agency…
I’d advise patience to any Pistons fans cause when the 2023-2024 season hits, if they play it correctly, they could have something special moving forward…
There are 30 teams in the league desperate to get hold of Chet Holmgren!!!
Dude is such a unique talent, he will be one of the top players in the league in just 2 or 3 years, specially if they don’t put much weight on him!
Chet defines what a unicorn is all about!
That is a perfect description for him because unicorns aren’t real, and neither is his NBA potential.
Hard pass!
Ah, yes. Unicorns.
– K. Porzingus
I don’t even think he will reach Porzingus ceiling. He can block shots and score some, but he is going to be more of a liability on the court. I’d pass early.
I admittedly haven’t seen him play much at all, but 7’0 195lbs does not sound appealing at all for an NBA center. He’d have to get on the Greek freak work out program and beef the heck up, but I doubt he could even out on half of his muscle. Suffice to say, just like most everyone else, he’s a hard pass for me.
GUYS WHAT ABOUT PAOLO
He looks like the guy I would pick!
sacramento kings shoulda drafted doncic and they were also jobbed by the league and the officials in 2002
I admittedly haven’t seen him play much at all, but 7’0 195lbs does not sound appealing at all for an NBA center. He’d have to get on the Greek freak work out program and beef the heck up, but I doubt he could even out on half of his muscle. Suffice to say, just like most everyone else, that’s a hard no for me.