Grade the Trade: Raptors shed unwanted salary, add key veteran in new mock deal

Grade the Trade: Do the Raptors say yes?

Jerami Grant is a talented player, someone who bet on himself growing past being a role player in Detroit and won, earning himself a significant role and then a significant salary in Portland. He has averaged between 19.2 and 22.3 points per game in each of the last four seasons.

Grant would also bring shooting to the Raptors, the impetus for this deal existing in the first place. Grant has shot better than 40 percent in each of the last two seasons, and he has hit over 80 percent from the line in each of the last four, underscoring his growth as a shooter.

The problem with Grant is that he doesn't excel in any other area at this point in his career. His defense is solid but has eroded as his offensive load has increased. He is one of the worst rebounders in the league at his size, is not an incredible finisher inside and is a limited playmaker.

Trading for Grant would commit the Raptors to his contract for the next four seasons, years in which they will also be paying significant money to Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. That type of commitment for a non-star only makes sense as the finishing touch on a championship team; it certainly doesn't for a Raptors team trying to transition to a younger core that needs to maximize future financial flexibility.

This deal would not make a lot of sense if the cost was simply Bruce Brown; they could just decline his team option and not load their books with Grant's salary. Add in the draft compensation and it's a clear stay-away.

Grade: C-