The Portland Trail Blazers could finally ship Jerami Grant out of his hometown this offseason. It's been apparent that Grant hasn't fit Portland's rebuilding timeline ever since he inked the questionable five-year, $160 million deal in 2023. He's survived countless trade rumors up until this point, but it's reasonable to expect that to change with moves on the horizon.
Portland reportedly even offered Grant and draft capital to the Dallas Mavericks at the February trade deadline in an attempt to land Anthony Davis. That never materialized as Dallas was hesitant to take on Grant's salary. While the Mavericks wisely maintained their financial flexibility, one team that may not have that luxury is the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portland may finally fix its Jerami Grant mistake
The offseason hasn't even officially started, yet Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks are already starting to pick up once again. A Giannis trade seems more likely than ever after seeing the underwhelming season Milwaukee had, especially considering an offseason deal was always more likely given the more freedom teams have to move assets around.
Giannis trade talks give Portland a prime opportunity to finally fix its Grant mistake. On one hand, the Bucks could find themselves desperate to land more win-now help to convince Giannis to stay. Their limited assets make that incredibly challenging to do so, meaning they could potentially dig themselves a deeper hole by taking on someone like Grant -- a piece they wouldn't pay for from an asset standpoint, but from a financial flexibility standpoint.
Alternatively, Portland is well-positioned to package Grant should Giannis ultimately be on the move. The Blazers could include Grant as a salary filler themselves as they look to acquire Giannis directly. They'd likely have to trade one of Jrue Holiday or Grant, and the former teammate connections, as well as immediate impact, make it more reasonable to include the latter.
Still, that depends on Giannis' willingness to commit to Portland long-term. The Blazers aren't going to risk sacrificing the future for what could very well be a one-year rental should Giannis decline his player option. That adds another layer of complexity, seeing as Giannis has been rumored to have no desire to come to Portland, which hurt its chances of pulling off the blockbuster.
Blazers could still facilitate a Giannis deal
Our best guess is Giannis is finally on the move this summer, but it's a larger market that wins the sweepstakes. That could still put Portland in a position to capitalize on its role as a facilitator, finding a way to shed Grant's contract.
For instance, the Boston Celtics have interest in Giannis, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. If he heads to Boston, then Portland could send a package of Grant and young assets/draft capital to Milwaukee, coming away with a secondary star such as Jaylen Brown.
In some ways, it helps to have a salary as massive as Grant's, as it makes it financially easier to land a star. He's likely still considered a negative asset around the league, but the bounce-back season he's had in Portland certainly helps raise his market value, too.
With Giannis potentially on the move, the Blazers are quietly a team to watch this summer. With them seeming to want to keep Holiday around, it's increasingly likely that Grant is the piece of the puzzle to help make this all happen.
Whether it's trading for Giannis directly, facilitating a Giannis trade, or Milwaukee trying to upgrade its roster to convince him to stay, Portland finally has enough leverage to solve its Grant problem once and for all.
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