that's possible, but it's not confirmed by his history. He has approximately the same efficiency when his usage rate is 25% as he does when it's 17% now, I supposed you could argue he'd be dynamite as a catch-n-shoot and spot-up option playing off Lebron and AD. But again, his numbers don't make a compelling case either way and Rui is pretty good at that too. And the Lakers don't have to give up a 1st to have Rui in that role
Do you have a link to the report? I don't remember that, and I couldn't find anything that stated a deal was in place... Just rumors of discussions. I would LOVE it if it were true. I just don't buy that the Lakers would spend that much on Grant.
I think that was Danny Marang. Take that for what you will... https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/...ers reporter,A Portland Trail Blazers Podcast.
Yeah I think it was in another thread I posted - Vincent+Venderbilt+Chrstie+ another Lakers player for Grant and Duop. It looked like a legal trade that had the team under the 2nd apron so they could aggregate salary. But the Lakers would eventually likely end up over the 2nd apron once they later signed players to those last roster spots. Salaries are very tight but I think there is a way they could do that and then have all three of Russell/Rui/Grant this season. They would be just over the 2nd apron this year, but the cap would go up in the summer getting them that flexibility back. Most the big penalties are for multiple seasons over the 2nd appron which they could easily avoid.
See the problems with all of these reports is we have no idea what exactly "first round pick" means. It could be a heavily protected pick that is similar to the value of many 2nd rounders. Or it could be a completely unprotected pick for a likely bad team that is worth a fortune. Or it could be something in between. Maybe the Lakers offered two top25 protected FRP that had little value. Or maybe the Blazers want one completely unprotected pick which the Lakers won't accept.
