3. Jerami Grant
If Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin is willing to answer phone calls from a 305 area code, perhaps the two teams can finally strike a deal.
Jerami Grant, who signed a five-year, $160 million contract last summer before Damian Lillard was traded, is the odd man on a rebuilding Portland team. He’s averaging 22 points on 41% shooting from deep this season and deserves to be on a playoff team.
Could the Heat be that team? It depends on their appetite for Grant’s contract and what a trade would cost. While Grant is a good player, he’ll be 30 in March and it’s unclear how many teams would be willing to trade for him on a deal that pays him upwards of $36 million a year through his age-33 season.
If the Trail Blazers are seeking a get-out-of-jail-free card and avoid paying Grant long-term, the Heat could offer a package of Lowry’s expiring and second-year forward Nikola Jovic. But it’s probably not worth including valuable draft capital.