Lakers Hit a Wall in Trade Negotiations for Veteran Forward

The Los Angeles Lakers have turned their attention to the trade market after disappointingly missing out on their free-agent targets. It has been a week since the start of free agency and the Lakers have yet to make a move to improve the roster for next season.

It looks like they might not have much better luck on the trade market, either. One of the names they have been linked to is Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers. According to the latest reporting by Blazers insider Sean Highkin, however, trade negotiations between the teams aren't progressing. In his piece for The Rose Garden Report, Highkin said that the Blazers want two first-round picks from the Lakers, as well as matching salaries, in a potential deal for Grant. He adds that the Lakers are unwilling to meet the price.

This is not entirely surprising. The Lakers only have two first-round picks (2029 and 2031) that they can trade. Using their entire draft capital on Jerami Grant is probably not the best idea, especially considering that the 30-year-old forward is making $30 million next season and is under contract for three more years.

Another sticking point here apparently is the lack of interest Portland has in the Lakers players other than Rui Hachimura. The Lakers have to send multiple players to match salaries, most likely one of Gabe Vincent, D'Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt in addition to Hachimura.

Perhaps the Blazers will lower their exorbitant price for Grant. Unless it's one first-round pick, the Lakers should not be too interested. However, regardless of what happens with negotiations for Grant, the clock is ticking for the Lakers front office. They need to build out and improve the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis to have a chance of competing in the loaded Western Conference.

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