Portland Trail Blazers fans hoped to receive a notification from ESPN's Shams Charania that the team had traded Jerami Grant. There is no point in keeping him on the roster, but the Blazers learned that it's not easy to move a player who signed a five-year, $160 million extension two years ago. There is a chance that he'll make $32 million next season coming off the bench.
Earlier this month, Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report wrote that there isn't a trade market for Grant, suggesting that he could be part of the second unit (subscription required). It's not ideal, but Portland wants to prioritize minutes for Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. Grant isn't part of the long-term plan.
The Trail Blazers can't bank on a team getting desperate enough to trade for Grant, either. The collective bargaining agreement complicates trades and keeps teams from unnecessarily spending money. Grant's production doesn't match his contract.
A Jerami Grant-Trail Blazers trade isn't happening this offseason
Grant, who turned 31 earlier this year, had a noticeable drop-off in numbers between last season and this season. He averaged 14.4 points (his lowest since joining Portland), 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 37.3% from the field and 36.5% from three. He played only 47 games due to injuries.
The forward is owed $100+ million over the next three years (there isn't a world where he won't pick up his $36.4 million player option in 2027-28), hence why they tried to trade him. Highkin wrote that Portland doesn't want to attach draft assets to get rid of Grant's contract, so for now, he'll stick around.
The Trail Blazers are in a unique position of their own making, one where they don't have a real shot at making the playoffs this season, but their offseason moves showed they want to get there. They didn't trade for Jrue Holiday and reunite with Damian Lillard for no reason.
Portland can use the upcoming season to continue its development of its young players (and its newcomers) while fighting to be competitive. Playing Grant 30+ minutes per game doesn't fit into the equation, which is why he should come off the bench, but Chauncey Billups will make that decision.
Grant has started in every game he's played since arriving in Portland, but it's time for a change.