Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

[DanSchwartzgan]

Shams just said on FanDuel TV that the Mavs have done their due diligence on both Siakam and Jerami Grant and determined the price tags were too high for them but still determined to upgrade PF.

I heard Mort Jenson today talking about Grant.  He thinks Portland should sell if they can get an expiring and a pick (and not necessarily a good pick).  

His point is Grant turns 30 soon.  He's a good player being paid like a great player and Portland runs the risk of being stuck with him.  Imagine two years from now and he's 32 and owed $70 million for the final two years and you are Portland and Sharpe's big dollar extension kicks in in a few months and Scoot is right behind him.  You need that $70mm off the books, but Grant is much harder to move at that point.  It doesn't have to happen by the TDL, but there is probably a point where Grant moves at a reasonable price.

One thing about guys in the price range of Grant or Kuzma is if you send out THJ and one of your $12mm guys, you drop 24/25 salary and help your effort to keep DJJ.  In some ways, whatever the cost in draft equity such a deal might cost is helping you with two spots, not just the newly acquired guy.