There's no way around it -- the Portland Trail Blazers have a Jerami Grant problem. And, if their preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors was any indication, that problem isn't going to be solved anytime soon.
Chauncey Billups started Grant alongside Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. That decision backfired, as Grant rewarded Billups with eight points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Grant struggled with inefficient shooting last season with the Blazers, averaging 14.4 points while shooting just 37.3% from the field. That issue has carried over into this season, as Grant went 2-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Jerami Grant is getting in the way of Portland's rebuild
This offseason, Portland moved on from Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton, two relatively one-dimensional players. Simons is a defensive liability, and Ayton isn't an ideal fit for a modern-day center due to his lack of blocks and floor spacing. As a result, the Blazers should have a more versatile roster heading into the 2025-26 season. The one player they just can't shed to take that one step further is Grant.
He doesn't get rebounds and doesn't create easy scoring opportunities for teammates. Oftentimes, if his shot isn't falling, he's essentially a non-factor. That's devastating for the Blazers' rebuild, as they have puzzlingly invested $160 million into this player.
At this point, they need to accept the grim reality that Grant is no longer the player they once invested in. He's rapidly declining at just 31 years old, with no sign of a bounce-back season coming. In a perfect world, the Blazers would simply offload Grant to a contending team that is willing to overlook his massive contract in hopes of him being the piece to put them over the top. That's not the reality we live in, especially with how financially selective teams are forced to be under the new CBA.
More likely than not, Grant is stuck in Portland for the next few years. If he weren't so dang expensive, we wouldn't even mind it, as he helps bolster a roster strength with his length and provides much-needed floor spacing, despite the overall shooting inefficiencies. But regardless of his price, it's become apparent that Grant's on-court production no longer justifies a starting spot.
Despite their surprising win-now addition of veteran Jrue Holiday, general manager Joe Cronin has continually emphasized the Blazers taking a patient and long-term approach to their rebuild. Not only is Grant worse than players such as Sharpe, Camara, and Avdija, but he's also significantly older. Portland is a team that is built to contend in the next three or four years. They need to prioritize the players who will be key parts of that future iteration of their team.
Now that he's extended, Billups should also want what's in the best interest of Portland's long-term outlook. If that's the case, I'm not sure how you come to any other conclusion but to bench Jerami Grant.