Damian Lillard Aftermath, Cavaliers Should Trade For This Trail Blazer
Damian Lillard being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers wasn't necessarily breaking news. There have been rumors for months surrounding the seven-time All-Star and his desire to be moved to a contender. Many thought it would be the Miami Heat but in the end, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Either way, the Lillard era in Portland is over and they can now focus on rebuilding for the future. This is something the Cleveland Cavaliers could take advantage of if they play their cards right.
Portland signed small-forward Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160-million deal over the Summer but it doesn't seem like he'll be there long-term. Reports indicate the Trail Blazers could be open to moving Grant and the Cavs should be the first team to give them a call.
Cleveland's likely opening night starting three will be Max Strus and he is undoubtedly an upgrade over what the team had last season. However, Strus still feels more like a guard and could have trouble facing up against the league's best wings.
Grant would be a perfect fit to slot into the starting rotation and could take the Cavs from a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference to a contender.
The best part of Grant's game is his ability to find his own shot. He averaged 20.5 points per game last season while shooting 47 percent from the floor. This scoring boost would take some pressure off Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Jan 12, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
© Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
The only asterisk with this plan is that Grant won't be eligible to be traded until January 15 because of when he signed his contract. This gives Cleveland plenty of time to assess their roster and decide around the halfway point if they need a player of his caliber.
This will be an important season for the Cavs and they're as close to going all-in as you can get. Putting together a trade package for Grant could raise the ceiling for the team this year.
