The Detroit Pistons are already being thrown into trade rumors for Jerami Grant, which makes sense given their record and the state of their rebuild.
Chad Ford wrote yesterday that many GM’s expect the Pistons to trade Grant before the deadline, so I am sure Troy Weaver has been doing his homework to find out what the market might look like.
The Pistons could try to move Jerami Grant to a contender in exchange for young players and draft assets, but there aren’t many who are in need of his services and have a trade package that might entice the Pistons to move on from Grant.
It’s possible the Pistons will just re-sign Grant to a long term deal, but if they don’t, it makes sense to move him now, as teams will give up more for a guy who still has a year left on his contract at a reasonable rate.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in a unique position, as they were expected to compete for a playoff spot but were undone by Zion Williamson’s injury. Whether Zion comes back this season or not, the Pelicans will be desperate to make the playoffs next season and still might even think they can salvage this one with the right move.
They also have the combination of young players and draft assets the Pistons might covet, so is there a match here?
Detroit Pistons: Trading Jerami Grant to the New Orleans Pelicans
Here is a trade that both teams would consider:
I am not sure either fan base would be happy with this trade for various reasons, but does make some sense for both teams given their respective positions in the league.
Detroit Pistons: Would the Pelicans trade for Jerami Grant?
The Pelicans are in a tough spot right now, as they are at the bottom of the Western Conference but had plans on making the playoffs this season.
They still aren’t that far out of it, and the Pels are better than their record might indicate. Getting a guy like Jerami Grant would help them to stay afloat until Zion comes back and would give them additional depth once he does.
Pairing Jerami Grant with rookie super-defender Herb Jones would change the Pelicans defensively and give them a very versatile group around Zion, as well as another scoring option.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes have both been disappointing this season, and may need a change of scenery. They are both signed through next season but aren’t doing much for the Pelicans right now.
Whether the Pels would do this would depend largely on how much pressure David Griffin is feeling to put a winner on the floor as soon as possible.
Are they willing to be patient and play a risky long-game with Zion Williamson or do they want to put better players around him now in a show of good faith that they are trying to get better?
They’d be giving up future possibility for a much more known commodity and the draft pick doesn’t hurt them, as they have two more 1st-round picks in the same year.
I think the Pelicans would at least listen to this offer.
Would the Detroit Pistons trade Jerami Grant for unproven players with upside?
The Pistons definitely need an upgrade at backup center and Jaxson Hayes is a tantalizing talent. He has otherworldly athleticism for his size, is a lob-catching dunk machine who can block shots, but is very raw when it comes to other skills.
He has no offensive game to speak of, but would give the Pistons the athleticism they currently lack and would be an upgrade over any of their backup bigs and he’s only 21-years-old and fits with their timeline.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has flashed star potential but his shooting has taken an alarming turn this season, one in which many expected him to break out. He’s still just 23, so has room and time to get better.
He doesn’t offer the shooting the Pistons need but he’d be great off their bench as the primary scorer and would give them an opportunity to take a flyer on a high-ceiling talent.
The Pistons would also recoup a 1st-round pick that would give them more flexibility to make trades in the future.
This might not be the best package Detroit can get for Jerami Grant, but it has the type of young players and draft assets the rebuilding Pistons would likely want.
I would hate to see Grant go in a move like this, as the Pistons already have a lot of young players and should be looking to add talent around them, not take it away. How the Pistons handle Grant will be a good indication of where they think they are in the “restoration.”
Is it enough? Too much? Tell me what you think in the comments.