Skip to content 
There are Celtics trade rumors surrounding a move for Jerami Grant. Boston has reportedly offered multiple first-round picks for the former Nuggets forward. A Jerami Grant trade is possible with the Detroit Pistons rebuilding.
It was reported that the Celtics have offered multiple first-round picks for Grant. This trade package could resemble what the New Orleans Pelicans received for Jrue Holiday in the offseason.
Boston can absorb Grant into their record-breaking trade exception. Detroit may well ask for young players like Carsen Edwards or Romeo Langford to complement the deal, but the foundation of the package would likely be draft picks. The Celtics own all of their future picks, and the starting point would probably be their 2021 and 2023 first-round selections.
That’s unlikely to be enough for a Grant trade, however. The Pistons forward is a contender for Most Improved Player and he’s under contract through the next two seasons at a reasonable $19 million per year.
Alternatively, the Celtics could construct a Grant trade with Tristan Thompson‘s salary. The picks are still what will decide if Detroit accepts, but Danny Ainge has options here.
Having just signed Grant as a free agent, though, the Pistons are unlikely to be keen on a trade despite their rebuilding status. Grant joined Detroit to have a bigger role and play for a black head coach in Dwane Casey. It would be a bad look to trade Grant without his blessing.
Grant’s fit with Boston
It will require a haul of draft picks and possibly young talent for the Celtics to convince Detroit to make a Grant trade. Ainge will have to overpay. While overpaying is rarely a good idea in the NBA, and particularly for a player who will be no better than a fourth option, Grant is almost the ideal player for this Celtics roster.
Boston needs wing depth behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They need guaranteed scoring punch behind the young duo and Kemba Walker. Grant ticks both of those boxes, and he’s demonstrated his ability as a scorer this season, excelling as the lead man on offense. He can create off the bounce and spot up.
The fit on defense is just as smooth. Grant has spent much of his career as a three or four, but he’s got the size to play small-ball five. Line-ups with Tatum, Brown, Grant and Marcus Smart would be a menace on the defensive end.
This isn’t just a random solid defender either. Grant can guard the opponent’s best wing. He can take on Jimmy Butler or Khris Middleton, and he can switch on to Bam Adebayo or Giannis Antetokoumpo. Perhaps most importantly, though, his arrival would spell the end of the two-big line-ups that Brad Stevens has been forced into with worrying frequency this season.
Grant’s also a good enough shooter to slot in as the four with Robert Williams or Tristan Thompson at the five. He would give Stevens invaluable flexibility.
Worth the price
Ainge has resisted big trades in recent seasons. It’s over half a decade since his last midseason deal. The Celtics are in no rush given the age of Brown and Tatum. Throwing multiple first-round picks at a trade for Grant would pile the pressure on this group, and many prefer to preserve those picks for a bigger deal down the line.
Grant’s fit is indisputable, though. If he’s happy to depart Detroit for Boston, they will be getting almost the ideal player for what they need. Stars might be available in coming months or years, but there’s no guarantee they will complement Walker, Smart, Brown and Tatum as well as Grant would.
He’s not perceived as an ‘all-in’ player. Trading for Grant isn’t considered a massive needle-mover, but in this case, he could be. Boston has their stars. They’ve got options at the five, and Smart is the soul of the team. They are one above-average to good player away from being a real Finals threat.
‘Multiple first-round picks’ is an alarming phrase for NBA fans. With good reason, of course, but Boston trading their 2021 and 2023 selections isn’t as drastic as it sounds. Those should be picks in the twenties, and recent history shows non-lottery picks have done little to help the Celtics contend for a title.
This trade might not even be feasible. Grant only recently committed his future to the Pistons, Troy Weaver and Casey. Maybe these are standard NBA trade rumors ahead of the deadline, but it’s certainly an interesting prospect for this Celtics roster.
[spreaker type=player resource=”show_id=4112709″ width=”100%” height=”200px” theme=”light” playlist=”false” playlist-continuous=”false” autoplay=”false” live-autoplay=”false” chapters-image=”true” episode-image-position=”right” hide-logo=”false” hide-likes=”false” hide-comments=”false” hide-sharing=”false” hide-download=”true”]
