The Milwaukee Bucks, as always, will be active in trying to upgrade their roster throughout the year, especially as rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future swirl. Trade rumors will inevitably heat up, but the Bucks shouldn't get too involved with Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. In his latest piece, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey created a mock that sends Grant to Milwaukee.
While Grant is a recognizable name, there are countless reasons the Bucks should stay away from him in any trade discussions.
Jerami Grant isn't a perfect upgrade for the Bucks
Is Grant a better player than Kuzma? The numbers are comparable. Last season, Grant averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Kuzma averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Both are solid defenders at the forward position, capable of being versatile pieces who can switch between different matchups.
So, what's the holdup? It all starts with money. Kuzma is set to take home $22 million this season and $20.3 million the following year. Meanwhile, Grant will earn $32 million this year and $34.2 million the following season while also holding a player option worth $36.4 million the year after. That's a lot of extra money for a player who might not even be better than Kuzma.
That goes without mentioning his health. Over the last five seasons, Grant has appeared in 55 or more regular season games once. One of the reasons the Milwaukee Bucks went through significant roster changes over the last year, including parting ways with Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, was due to health concerns. Grant puts them right back in the same boat.
Kuzma, for all of his faults, has never played fewer than 65 games in his career. Not only does it make him more available for the Milwaukee Bucks, but it also makes Kuzma somewhat easier to trade. The health concerns are a prominent reason why the Trail Blazers haven't traded Grant yet. Teams are wary that they will inherit those concerns, so Portland might be stuck with him.
Even with the second round picks in there, Grant's contract and health concerns are still fearsome. If he were to get hurt or just not play well, the Bucks are stuck on the hook for years.
The one advantage that Grant matter-of-factly has over Kuzma is his perimeter shooting. For his NBA career, he has shot 36.4 percent from deep. Kuzma, on the other hand, is down at 33.4 percent. With an emphasis on shooting the long ball this season, the Milwaukee Bucks could use another strong outside shooter, but this trade shouldn't be the specific deal to get it done.
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