A couple of hours into NBA free agency on Sunday, the only move the Los Angeles Lakers had made was to re-sign guard Max Christie to a four-year, $32 million contract. Christie is one of their most promising young players, but it is clear they will need more than improvement from him to become championship contenders again.
With Jonas Valančiūnas, Chris Paul and James Harden off the board, the outside free agent options for the Lakers are slim. Therefore, they will, in all likelihood, have to pull off at least one significant trade in order to return to the league’s elite ranks.
According to insider Anthony Irwin, the team is engaged in talks with the Portland Trail Blazers in an attempt to land forward Jerami Grant (h/t The Cold Wire).
I’m told the Lakers and Trail Blazers have been in consistent talks on a deal for Jerami Grant. I wouldn’t call it particularly imminent but the sides have definitely been active most of today.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) June 30, 2024
Grant would be quite a big get for Los Angeles. He averaged 21.0 points a game while shooting 40.2% from 3-point range during the 2023-24 season. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound frontcourt player has ample athleticism, and his defense isn’t too shabby either.
He is under contract for four more seasons, and he will make about $29.8 million during the 2024-25 campaign.
