Detroit Pistons: Do Heat have what it takes to trade for Jerami Grant?

Detroit Pistons: Trading Jerami Grant to the Miami Heat

The second trade I’ve seen floating around was suggested by our old friend Ku, who was just spitballing on Twitter.

This version of the trade swaps out Strus for an additional first-round pick:

So now, instead of at least getting two proven players, the Pistons are getting the 27th pick in a middling draft and a 2023 first-rounder (top-3 protected) which is again likely to be in the latter part of the first round.

I like this one even less, as you are only getting back one guaranteed rotation player who is overpaid and under contact for the next three seasons guaranteed. Whoever takes on that Robinson contract is stuck with him. If he continues to regress, that contract will be unmovable.

In addition you are getting two picks in the late 20’s, a spot where you’d be lucky to find a rotation player. Just look at the statistics, guys in this range are more likely to be out of the NBA in three years than in a rotation.

So now the Detroit Pistons are giving up Jerami Grant for two unknowns and the Duncan Robinson contract. Miami would sign this deal in about a nanosecond, but it’s one the Pistons should run away from.

Personally, I’d far rather have Jerami Grant for the next four years than Duncan Robinson and two picks in the high 20’s and that seems like a no-brainer to me. Grant will be making more, but he’s also a much better player and that contract will still be tradable down the road, while Robinson’s probably won’t be.

I don’t see the Miami Heat as a viable trade partner for the Detroit Pistons unless there is a third team involved, as they just don’t have any assets that are more attractive than just keeping Grant.