Jerami Grant may be nearing the end of his time with the Pistons.
Detroit's leading scorer is generating major interest on the trade market, despite a thumb injury that will sideline him for at least six weeks, and the club is 'open to a possible deal,' according to The Athletic.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers are reportedly among the 'dozens of teams' calling the Pistons 'each week' about Grant, making him 'one of the most sought-after' trade targets in the NBA.
Grant, 27, is in the second season of the three-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Pistons last offseason. His production is down from last year when he finished second to Julius Randle for the Most Improved Player award, but he's still averaging 20.1 points and getting to the line more than six times per game. And he has a career-high player efficiency rating of 17.1
Headed for another last-place finish, the Pistons are poised to sell ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline. GM Troy Weaver will likely be seeking substantial draft capital in exchange for Grant, a member of Team USA whose reputation is rising across the league.
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Grant is eligible in the coming offseason for a four-year extension worth up to $112 million. Per The Athletic, "interested teams understand Grant will command most" of that money. He suffered torn ligaments in his right thumb in Detroit's loss to the Pelicans last Friday, but 'that is not expected to impact his trade market.'
The departure of Grant would increase the scoring load on first overall pick Cade Cunningham, who's warming to the task. He's averaged 22.7 points and shot over 50 percent from three over the last six games, including 26 points in a back-and-forth battle with Kevin Durant and the Nets on Sunday.
The Pistons, dead last in the NBA at 4-22, could also look to trade veterans like Kelly Olynyk, Trey Lyles and Cory Jospeh in the coming months.