Let's get this out of the way at the top -- the Pistons are not shopping Jerami Grant.
They just signed him to a three-year deal that looks like the best bargain of the offseason -- and one of the best bargains across the NBA. Grant is making $20 million per year and playing like a star. He's a major piece of Detroit's rebuild.
Naturally, other teams are interested.
According to The Athletic, the Celtics have identified Grant as one of their 'top targets' ahead of the March 25 trade deadline.
In related news, the Pistons would like Jaylen Brown.
The Pistons didn't sign Grant to be a placeholder. They view him as a face of their future. And now that he's taken his game to new heights, they probably aren't interested in selling high -- unless it's, like, really, really high.
As in, multiple first-round picks. And probably a couple young assets to boot.
The Celtics do possess their first-rounder in every draft for the foreseeable future, but their only extra capital comes in the second round. That won't interest the Pistons in a deal for Grant. And Boston's best young assets are crucial to its title chances.
Hard to see how this one works.
As far as trade targets on the Pistons, Wayne Ellington and Delon Wright are much more realistic. Ellington is shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from three on a cheap one-year deal, and Wright has the tools to be a scorer off the bench for a contender.
In Blake Griffin news, his official departure from Detroit appears to be close. The two sides are working toward a buyout, according to The Athletic. This would cost Griffin his $39 million option for next season, but it would give him the chance to sign with a contender right away.