Lakers Rumors: Jerami Grant Could Rekindle LA Ties as $12.9 Million Blessing Adds to Klay Thompson Pursuit

For quite some time now, Los Angeles Lakers fans have been on the edge of their seat to find out whether lead scorer LeBron James will choose to seek an extension with the team. Now, an unexpected twist has been brought to the story. Rumors are running amok, with a somewhat confirmation from LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, that the player would accept a contract with a reduced amount if the Lakers could bring in Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson. Through this action, however, the franchise could also allow itself to acquire Portland Trail Blazers power forward Jerami Grant.

The Athletic’s Jovan Buha touched base on the recent ‘Klay Thompson-Lakers’ saga. According to him, LeBron James would need to reduce his yearly paycheck from the expected $51 million all the way down to $33 million for the Lakers to avoid going over the first apron limit after their acquisitions. According to reports, the $16 million that LeBron would sacrifice would allow the franchise to open the total $12.9 million mid-level exception (MLE). Furthermore, Jovan Buha believes a salary dump can be the way to put the team in a better position financially. By hypothetically cutting ties with Christian Wood, Jackson Hayes, and Cam Reddish, over $7.96 million can be saved. If all goes well, then LeBron James will stay on, the Warriors star can come in under the Non-Taxpayer MLE, and the franchise can allow one more spot on the roster to be filled in.

“Some names that I’ve reported and have heard are Jeremy Grant, Kyle Kuzma, Dorian Smith, and Cam Johnson,” said Buha when reporting on the names that the Lakers can add to their remaining slot.

This isn’t the first time Jerami Grant’s name has popped up here. The 30-year-old was linked with Lakers in 2022 as well, when he was with the Detroit Pistons. Then, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka wanted to bring him in as part of his first in-season trade after Magic Johnson’s exit from his management role. Being eligible for a four-year, $112 million extension back then, acquiring Grant would have teamed him with the likes of Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn. But this could not pan out, since Grizzlies took him away. 

Now, the same opportunity has been rekindled. However, with Grant set to enter the second season of his current 5-year, $160 million contract, the Lakers may have to look for more than the $12.9 million MLE that they are set to possess.

The ‘Deni Avdija, JJ Redick’ angle for Jerami Grant’s acquisition

To get Jerami Grant into their roster, the Los Angeles Lakers also had to consider other factors. Along with the financial component, the franchise has to ensure that the player is available for a trade. Furthermore, the new head coach, JJ Redick, should be open to welcoming him. Fortunately, there is nothing but good news on both counts for now.

A few days ago, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired small forward Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards. According to a report by the ‘LA Sports Hub’, since Avdija plays the same position as Grant, the latter gets himself put in a trading position without leaving a gap in the Trail Blazers roster. The same report claimed that while it isn’t confirmed, Grant’s advanced age indicates that he is “certainly indicate he’s not part of their (Portland Trail Blazers) long-term plans.”

Lakers HC JJ Redick has reportedly been spending the last few days meeting up with players and deciding what roles need to be prioritized for the future. According to Yahoo Sports journalist Jake Fischer, Redick is currently prioritizing “positional versatility, 3-point shooting, and playmaking for lineups that can optimize LeBron James off the ball.” With a 2.1-5.1 average, Grant’s three-pointer percentage during the most recent season was over 40.2%. Furthermore, according to ‘The Report on Sports’, the player possesses the “ability to play multiple positions” and has a noticeable “proficiency from beyond the arc.” 

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.