Jerami Grant has fully embraced his spot with the Portland Trail Blazers but has developed into an untradable player. The Blazers’ rebuild can go on without him, but Portland’s future likely involves him in some capacity.
Jerami Grant Has Become Portland’s Untradable Player
The Trail Blazers have a talented team filled with developing players. They have raw talent like Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe. However, the team still has veterans like Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, and Jerami Grant. Expectations were that the Blazers’ rebuild would continue to move forward, but that hasn’t happened as expected.
Portland’s future is bright because of the young talent. Unfortunately, they have an untradable player in Grant, who has three more years on his contract after the 2024-25 season. He is still a good player, but his contract is one of the front office’s biggest fumbles in the past few years. On the season, he is posting averages of 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
Grant’s Contract is Delaying The Blazers’ Rebuild
During the 2025 NBA trade deadline period, most people expected the Blazers to make moves. Blazers fans wanted trades that involved Grant, Simons, or Ayton. It would have been a forward-thinking approach because they already have young players to develop for Portland’s bright future.
Unfortunately, other teams do not want to touch Grant’s long-term contract. He turns 31 on March 12 and has three more seasons earning over $32 million. That is not a good commitment, considering Grant is a high-volume scorer with diminishing value outside his offense.
His contract makes him nearly an untradable player, which could hamper the team’s development. Portland already has two ready-made replacements for Grant in Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija. They have been playing together in the starting lineup.
This decision has left both Henderson and Sharpe outside the starting group. Considering they are the most promising players, making them come off the bench is not the best move.
Jerami Grant is about to make the entire city of Portland crash out! #RipCity
— Pinwheel Empire (@PinwheelEmpire) February 21, 2025
The Blazers Might Have To Stick With Jerami Grant, An Untradable Player
Due to his contract, it might be tough to move away from Grant anytime soon. That contract and his lack of consistent production are red flags for different teams. Portland might need to attach draft compensation to part ways, which is a bad move due to the Blazers’ rebuild.
Ayton and Simons are considerably easier to trade because they are younger and are more appealing to most teams. The former is a center that has been consistently producing good stats, but his motor is questionable. On the other hand, Simons is an explosive scoring guard, who can fit in any system around the league.
The next few years will probably have Grant and the Blazers stuck with each other. Grant loves the city of Portland, especially since he was born there. However, he might need to come off the bench to have a long-term spot with the team. Since he is on that massive contract, making him a glorified sixth man is not the best decision.
I’m sorry, $160M for Jerami Grant is immediately an abysmal contract
— NBA University (@NBA_University) June 30, 2023
Portland’s Future Should Focus On The Young Core
The clear plan for Portland is to help young talent develop into potential stars. Henderson, Sharpe, and Clingan all have raw potential. These high-potential players are facing roadblocks with the veterans in their development path.Henderson has proven he is a starting-level player, but Simons is in the way. Grant is blocking Sharpe’s pathway, while Ayton is in Clingan’s way.
Portland feels like they are operating on two timelines, but they must commit to one. That one timeline has the highest ceiling, which involves the young players. Trading away Grant, Simons, and Ayton could carve a pathway for the future. Simons and Aaron could get moved in the summer of 2025, but Grant is a seemingly untradable player now.
By jumpstarting the Blazers’ rebuild with Henderson, Sharpe, and Clingan, Portland’s future is bright. With more prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft, Portland could have an improved young core. The young players could benefit from better opportunities, especially if they part with Chauncey Billups. General manager Joe Cronin must focus on the future, and finding trades should be a priority.
Photo credit: © Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The post Jerami Grant Has Become Portland’s Untradable Player appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.