Lakers $160 Million Top Trade Target Expected To Be Traded

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for ways to improve their roster and they still need to find another superstar. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka will try to add a third player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers have at least one trade target on the radar right now.

Jerami Grant is one of the Lakers targets and getting him makes perfect sense. According to Zach Buckley from Bleacher Report, Grant will find a new home in the NBA by the 2025 trade deadline.

“Jerami Grant became an obvious candidate as soon as Damian Lillard requested a trade out of Portland—the day after Grant agreed to his five-year, $160 million deal last summer.

“Both parties have played nice since, but there must be an expiration date on that. Grant may not be blocking some young, high-end forward from seeing the floor, but this rebuild would still be easier to navigate without his contract on the books,” Buckley wrote on August 2. “As for the swingman himself, one can assume he’d prefer not to spend his 30s buried deep down the league standings.”

Lakers show interest in a top trade target

Pelinka missed out on a few great options and didn’t sign any players in free agency. Experts would agree that Grant is one of the very few players left.

Grant’s signing comes with a catch though. He is entering the second year of his five-year contract worth $160 million.

Jake Fischer from Yahoo Sports confirmed that the Lakers are definitely interested in getting Grant.

“To your point, yes, the Lakers have, I think, limited options of players who are actually available, who are difference-makers that they could foreseeably go and acquire,” Fischer said on July 31. “To my knowledge, [Jerami Grant] is someone that’s been on the radar.”

Portland is also looking for ways to improve the roster. The team hit the rock bottom in the West, finishing the regular season with a 21-61 record. If their front office wants to increase the chances of winning a title, they will have to trade several players, including Grant.