It seems inevitable that the Portland Trail Blazers will make a trade this offseason, primarily to escape their potential luxury tax and first apron financial situation as they prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season. With two coveted lottery picks, No. 7 and No. 14, in the 2024 NBA Draft, they could pursue younger, cheaper alternatives to fill the void left by whoever they ultimately decide to trade this summer.
Cody Williams’ length and versatility could fill Jerami Grant's void
Jerami Grant signed a massive five-year, $160 million deal last offseason. A lot has changed for the Blazers since then—half-heartedly attempting to retain Lillard played a factor in offering Grant the deal, and now that the Blazers are rebuilding in the post-Lillard era, Grant makes sense to move on from.
Enter Colorado’s Cody Williams as a potential replacement, who is projected in the mid-to-late lottery and could make sense for the Blazers to target at either of their first-round picks. As lengthy forwards, Grant and Williams have similar physical profiles. Grant is 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, while Williams is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. However, their similarities go beyond their physical measurements - both are versatile wings with solid ballhandling for their position.
If Williams were to eventually step into such a significant role for the Blazers, he’d need to improve his shooting and go-to scoring ability. He shot 41.5 percent from three as a Freshman but attempted less than two a game, leaving some to question if he’s really that efficient due to his low volume. His 71.4 percent throw shooting, often a better indicator, also suggests that Williams isn’t that great of a shooter yet.
However, Grant took some time to develop a reliable three-point shot in the league, shooting 31.4 and 24 percent in his first two seasons, respectively. Perhaps Williams could follow a similar career trajectory for the Blazers.