Portland's buyer's remorse and a Monty free agent
The Detroit Pistons have started their offseason with low-key trades to bring back the expiring contracts of two useful veterans.
It’s not exactly the splash some fans were hoping for, especially after enduring a 17-win season while hearing about the Pistons’ cap space and the various possibilities for it all year.
Other teams made splashes that they already regret, including the Portland Trail Blazers, who signed Jerami Grant to a ridiculous 5 year/$160 million contract the day before Damian Lillard requested a trade.
It seems impossible that Portland didn’t know about Lillard’s intent, but if so, the Grant contract makes little sense for a team that is now going to be rebuilding around their young players and whatever haul they get from the Lillard trade.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Grant may already be a future trade candidate:
“Another trade candidate to monitor down the line will be Jerami Grant, who agreed to a five-year, $160 million deal with the Blazers before the team received word that Lillard wanted out of Portland. Grant was expected to draw interest from several teams in free agency, including the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before word got around the league that the 29-year-old forward would remain with Portland on a new blockbuster deal. Grant is in the prime of his career and doesn’t ideally fit Portland’s new timeline with its young core.”
This may be the fastest case of buyer’s remorse in NBA history, as the ink isn’t even dry on Grant’s contract yet and they are already talking about moving him. It’s hard to imagine the interest will be as high around the league now that Grant will earn $32 million per season, though that number won’t be as bad in a few seasons if the cap goes up.
Would the Detroit Pistons have interest? Possibly, and they have the contracts to trade for him, so Grant’s situation will be one to monitor around the trade deadline.
Detroit Pistons: Possible free agent with ties to Monty Williams
Scotto also mentioned that Detroit has expressed interest in Torrey Craig, a guy I have been championing for years and who had the best season of his career under Monty Williams.
Williams is reportedly a big fan, which makes sense, as coaches love veteran players who can defend. Craig would potentially fit into the mid-level exception that the Pistons still have (around $7.8 million).
An offseason of adding Joe Harris, Monte Morris and Torrey Craig would not likely have fans dancing in the streets of Detroit, but the three veterans do all fill needs.
Source: Piston Powered
