Jerami Grant all but confirms his fate in Portland at media day

Jerami Grant made Portland Trail Blazers fans raise an eyebrow with his media day comments on Monday. When asked if he thought he was going to be back with the team at the conclusion of the offseason, Grant's honesty said a lot.

"Probably not. Definitely didn't," Grant said. "But I'm happy that I'm here right now. The way the team is structured and everything, the changes that were made, I think it's beneficial for me and for our team."

This kind of answer is a departure from the typical sort of media day attitude. It's a type of candid reflection that could hint at some uncertainty about Grant's long-term place within the organization.

It's also worth noting that Jerami stated that he doesn't expect to come off the bench this season. This prompted frustration from plenty of fans, given that it's a bit confusing to see how still having Grant in the starting lineup is the best move for Portland. 

Grant on whether he thought he'd be back: "Definitely didn't"

Overall, these comments suggest that Grant has potentially prepared himself from a mental standpoint for the reality where he is moved or his role is maybe reduced a bit. The comments about still expecting to be in the starting lineup certainly hint at a potential conflict when it comes to the Blazers' younger pieces that are pushing for heavier minutes and bigger roles. 

It's pretty clear that Portland is emphasizing youth at this point in time. Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Shaedon Sharpe and others all look to be big parts of this organization's future plans. Grant is a much more obvious candidate for a trade than any of the aforementioned guys.

This is especially sensible when you consider Jerami's contract and how that relates to his on court production. He's still set to earn north of $66 million over the course of the next two seasons. As the organization seeks to prioritize their young core, it would make sense for Grant to be on the outside looking in. 

The kind of public statements Jerami Grant made on Monday could serve to lessen the perception of mutual commitment between him and the franchise. I think a lot of Trail Blazers fans already see the writing on the wall with him, and this only serves to further confirm it.