2. Jerami Grant
While Jerami Grant is arguably the Blazers' best player, his contract makes moving him more complicated. Grant is going into his second year of a five-year, $160 million deal. Because of his hefty contract, Grant's perceived trade value around the league is a big question mark. But it will undoubtedly be less than this proposed deal with the Rockets, which would be a dream for the Blazers.
Grant has a $36.4 million player option for 2027-28 when he will be 33. Even though teams will likely consider him a negative asset towards the end of his contract, there has to be some team out there that is looking to add another piece to help them contend immediately. He's a 6-foot-7 forward with a 7-3 wingspan that scores over 20 points a game on 40 percent shooting from three. Only a few forwards in the NBA who have Grant's versatility are available.
Portland must move on from the 30-year-old to continue rebuilding in the right direction; this includes tanking for a better draft pick, freeing up minutes for their up-and-coming forwards, and giving themselves more financial flexibility. It's in their best interest to trade Grant while he's still at peak value.