The Portland Trail Blazers gave up four draft picks, including a 2025 first-rounder they acquired from the Bucks that just turned into Nolan Traore, to land Jerami Grant in 2022. One year later, the franchise gave him a fully regrettable five-year $160 million extension in hopes of keeping Damian Lillard in Rip City. Lillard asked out just after Grant's contract was agreed upon, and the legend was eventually traded to Milwaukee.
Grant regressed mightily last season as the Blazers improved. Portland clearly wants to take the next step after trading for Jrue Holiday, but they need more from Grant. He has three years left on his deal and is making $32-plus million every season. They can’t have him shooting 37 percent from the field and rating just over a replacement-level option by VORP.
Grant has not lived up to his contract and now Portland is giving away a first-round draft pick from this deal. Acquiring him was already regrettable and things just got worse.
Blazers’ Jerami Grant trade looks worse after giving up 1st round pick
Portland acquired Grant when he was in his prime and coming off a two-year run in Detroit where he averaged 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.8 steals in 33.0 minutes per game. Detroit won just 43 games in two years with Grant, but he wanted a larger offensive role. Portland saw a chance to get a number two behind Dame and paid the price.
Here are the full details of the Grant trade with the players plugged in for the draft picks that have already happened.
- Blazers received: Jerami Grant, Ismael Kamagate
- Pistons received: Nolan Traore, Gabriele Procida, Bogoljub Markovic, 2026 second-round pick
Neither Kamagate nor Procida have played in the NBA. Both players are still in their early 20s, so it could happen, but this deal may just be trading Grant for the 19th overall pick in 2025 and a couple second-rounders. Detroit traded the 19th pick to the Knicks during the 2022 draft, and New York flipped it to Brooklyn in the Mikal Bridges deal.
The pick helped the Pistons get Jalen Duren, which was a massive win for a rebuilding team. Duren has been a quality starting center with room to grow, so there are no regrets from Detroit’s side of this trade.
The Portland Trail Blazers need Jerami Grant to step up. Trading him is difficult given his salary, years left on his contract, and declining production. The franchise regrets giving him such a massive contract, but it was their only option to keep him. Things quickly went south after that.
Seeing the pick change hands was a gut punch for fans, but you have to give to get in trades. This was the price of acquiring a difference-maker. Sadly, it hasn’t gone as planned, but Grant is only 30. Don’t be surprised to see a slight bounce back, which could be enough to make his contract tradeable again. Fans can only hope at this point.