Judging by the optimism surrounding Portland's outlook, you'd have no idea they only won 36 games and failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin recently received a contract extension, being rewarded for the progress made in their surprising 36-46 season.
The two trades he's made to acquire Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija have already panned out in Portland's favor and were a significant reason why the Blazers exceeded expectations. Their recent top ten draft selections of Donovan Clingan (No. 7 in 2024), Scoot Henderson (No. 3 in 2023), and Shaedon Sharpe (No. 7 in 2022) haven't been home runs by any means, but they have all been solid picks and should receive a "B" grade overall.
However, if we praise Cronin for his trades and Portland's season, we should also criticize him for mistakes and questionable decisions that negatively affect their long-term ceiling.
The Blazers must shed Jerami Grant's head-scratching contract
At the top of that list is signing Jerami Grant to a ridiculous five-year, $160 million contract just one day before Damian Lillard's trade request that shook up the entire league.
Portland forced Lillard's hand by drafting his successor, Henderson, with their first-round pick rather than trading him to acquire more established talent to help him win now. That decision isn't the issue, as it was in their best interest to hit the reset button after enduring years of purgatory throughout the Lillard era.
However, the decision to sign Grant, currently the oldest player on Portland's roster at 31, contradicted that rebuilding direction.
It seemed as though it was a half-hearted attempt to keep Lillard content without sacrificing future assets. In today's NBA, juggling two timelines means falling behind in both, as teams that succeed are often fully committed to one or the other (the exception being the Oklahoma City Thunder).
Grant was arguably Portland's best player for a good portion of the past few seasons. Having his talent and veteran presence around may have prevented them from improving their lottery odds. His minutes and role also cut into development opportunities for up-and-coming players who better fit Portland's rebuilding timeline.
Cronin had a golden opportunity to correct this issue by moving Grant last summer but had a laughable asking price of two first-round picks for someone viewed as, at best, a natural asset given his contract.
The 2024-25 season further tanked Grant's trade value. Grant's stats plummeted to 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 37/37/85 shooting splits. He quickly went from one of the Blazers' best players to one of their biggest liabilities due to his inefficient shooting, compounded by his one-dimensional style of play as someone who doesn't contribute much outside of scoring.
The fact that Portland went on their end-of-season run without Grant shows how little they need him. With Camara and Avdija locked in as two of Portland's starters, Grant is actually cutting into a starting role for Sharpe, one of the only players they should be prioritizing.
The opportunity cost of keeping Grant around is that it's preventing their young core from taking on increased roles, contributing to their inconsistent play. He's also one of the only Blazers on a long-term deal, and getting off his remaining three years is imperative for a team that could have plenty of cap space in the 2026 offseason if they play their cards right.
We're well past the two first-round picks. Portland must shed Grant's contract by any means necessary, even if it means attaching other assets.