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Surprising New Lakers Target Reportedly Emerges Following JJ Redick Introduction

The Lakers reportedly have Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant on their wishlist as they look to upgrade their roster.

By Jovan Alford

Jun 24, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media during an introductory news conference at the UCLA Health Training Center.
Jun 24, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media during an introductory news conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Lakers finally have their new head coach (JJ Redick) and can begin finding the best players to add to the roster for next season. 

Los Angeles will have a few opportunities to do so between the 2024 NBA Draft, free agency, and through trades. GM Rob Pelinka has to explore any avenues for this team as they need to set up first-time head coach JJ Redick for success.

The Lakers have the Nos. 17 and 55 overall picks in the draft, which will allow them to add a talented rookie or use it in a draft-night trade. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Monday that Los Angeles has made their first-round pick available via trade.

Fischer noted how multiple centers have been linked to the Lakers at No. 17, which doesn’t come as a surprise, given the team’s need for a pure five. However, one has to believe that if the Lakers can get a quality veteran player to help them in the immediate future, they will not think twice about moving the 17th overall selection.

Lakers Rumors: Jerami Grant is on Los Angeles’ Wishlist 

If the Lakers decide to move their first-round pick, there’s one veteran player with ties to Klutch Sports Group that would give Los Angeles another 20-point scorer. Fischer reported on Monday that Portland Trail Blazers veteran forward Jerami Grant “is believed to be a potential addition on the Lakers’ wishlist.”

There’s been a lot of chatter around Grant’s name recently as Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported last weekend that several teams have ‘checked in’ on the veteran forward. 

Grant is coming off a solid 2023-24 season with the Trail Blazers, averaging 21 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. The 30-year-old forward is heading into the second year of a five-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Trail Blazers last summer.

The 6-foot-10 forward is scheduled to make $29.7 million next season. Therefore, if the Lakers wanted to trade for Grant, they would likely have to package the No. 17 pick, and a combo of Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, or D’Angelo Russell (if he accepts his player option).

That said, would Portland be enticed by that deal from the Lakers, especially with other teams throwing their hat in the ring for Grant? That’s a question only they can answer. However, one thing we know is that the Lakers will be active this offseason as they try to get back to the top of the Western Conference.

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