The Detroit Pistons don’t have to trade Jerami Grant at the deadline, but there are a lot of teams that are reportedly interested.
With no real superstars on the market and so many teams in contention, the Jerami Grant trade market could be robust and if the Pistons play it right, they could get a massive haul in return.
These factors probably make a Jerami Grant trade inevitable, as his value may never be higher even though he is currently out with an injured thumb.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers are teams that have been mentioned, but neither have the combination of young players or picks that the Pistons would likely require to move Grant.
One team that does is the Chicago Bulls, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference and are playing as well as anyone in the NBA right now.
They’ve won eight-in-a-row and have overtaken the Brooklyn Nets, who are still not at full strength.
There are a number of reasons trading Jerami Grant to the Bulls makes sense for both teams.
Why a Jerami Grant trade makes sense for the Pistons and Bulls
The NBA is as wide open as it’s been in a long time, with no clear favorite in either conference.
The Nets and Bucks are still getting the best odds to come out of the East, but the Bulls are right there and might feel like Grant would put them over the top.
Their window of opportunity to take the East is open right now and if the Bulls wanted to go “all-in” to win, this would be the type of move to make.
The Pistons are rebuilding around number one pick Cade Cunningham, along with Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes and Hamidou Diallo, who are all on the same timeline, so it makes sense for the Pistons to try and get maximum return for Grant now to add to their core if they can.
The Bulls, unlike so many of the other contenders, have assets that the Pistons might actually want, but what might a trade look like?
Possible trade of Jerami Grant to the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have won eight-in-a-row and may not feel they need a move at all, but adding Grant would give them another versatile forward and scoring option, as well as one of the best starting lineups in the NBA.
He would undoubtedly be an upgrade and maybe even more importantly, would stop him from going to their competition.
But would they be willing to give up a real asset to get him?
Here’s a trade that might work.
In this trade, the Bulls get their upgrade at forward with Grant, who is signed through next season at a team-friendly price for a guy who scores 20 a game and is a nice fit with what they have.
The Pistons get to take a flyer on a high-ceiling young forward in Williams and also get the expiring contract of Derrick Jones Jr.
There are some things that make this trade problematic for both teams, so would either of them actually consider this?
Why this trade is difficult for both teams
From the perspective of the Chicago Bulls, this is an “all-in” move that costs them their most promising young player.
Williams was All-Rookie last season and showed a lot of high-upside potential as an Uber-athletic forward who shot well from 3-point range on a low number of attempts.
The other problem is that Williams suffered a very serious wrist injury that will likely keep him out for the season, so he may not even clear the medical requirements for a trade.
This makes the trade risky for both teams, as the Bulls might be giving up on a future star who is only 20-years-old and the Pistons would be taking on a guy who just wrecked his wrist and probably won’t play this season.
But if the Bulls think their window of opportunity to win a title is the next two seasons, then you absolutely have to go all-in, even if that means trading your best up and coming player.
Same for the Pistons, who are going nowhere this season anyway and can add another guy who fits with their current core in age and skillset. It was no secret that the Pistons coveted Williams in the 2020 draft, but the Bulls scooped him up before the Pistons got a chance to pick, otherwise, he might be in Detroit already.
It’s an interesting idea for both teams, but also one that carries considerable risk. I think that if the Bulls were to put Williams on the table, the Detroit Pistons would probably say yes, but it would be a bold move for the Bulls, one I am not sure they’d be comfortable making given how they are playing right now.