Lakers Warned Against ‘Unwise’ Trade Of Talented Rui Hachimura For $160 Million Star

The Los Angeles Lakers made calculations regarding their 2024-25 roster and yes, the front office is expected to make some trade moves. In order to make a trade move, the Lakers will have to trade first-round picks and some of their assets. The Lakers will have to add talented Rui Hachimura to any trade scenario. Is this a smart move for the Lakers?

The team has been linked to Jerami Grant for quite some time. The Portland Trail Blazers don’t really have a reason to keep him on the roster as they are looking for ways to improve the roster. Grant is in the second year of his five-year deal worth $160 million. Is he a good fit for the storied franchise?

“If they get Grant, I am not sure they are that much better as a team,” one NBA executive said. “It’s a bad contract. He’s a good shooter but he is not a very good defender. I am not sure he is that much better than Rui, so if you’re giving up Rui and a draft pick? I can’t see making that move. It’s making a trade just for the sake of making a trade, and that’s always unwise.”

The Lakers should think twice before putting Hachimura on the trade block

The Lakers have a few good reasons to keep Hachimura on the roster. He averaged 13.6 points on 53.7% shooting and 42.2% 3-point shooting. If the Lakers get Grant, he will be their power forward

Klutch Sports represents Grant and this is a big advantage in his case. He averaged 21.0 points on 45.1% shooting in the 2023-24 NBA season. Grant also averaged 3.5 rebounds per game which is not really ideal for the position he is set to get with the Lakers.

Grant also has a history of injuries and this is something LA is aware of. Adding an injury-prone player doesn’t seem like a good deal.

“Jerami Grant can play, he is a shooter, he is a good, active defender when he is engaged, he is going to do a lot of things that help your team,” an executive said. “But he is a third option. He has some big numbers the last few years, but he has done it on terrible teams. No one is going to make a big trade for a guy who gives you 20 (points) on a bad team and 13 (points) on a good one.

“Not with his contract. He is going to make $30 (million) next year $32 the year after that. Then he has two more years. You can’t pay your third option $34, 35 million. If Portland wants the Lakers, the Heat, any of these teams to take him, they’ve got to recognize that.”