The Trail Blazers are expected to seriously pursue Pistons forward Jerami Grant during the 2022 offseason, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Even after moving CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington prior to last month’s trade deadline, Portland continued to be linked to Grant in the days and hours leading up to the deadline. Reports at the time indicated that, while they may have been throwing in the towel on this season, the Blazers weren’t necessarily prepared to embark on a lengthy rebuild and hoped to add pieces capable of helping them return to the playoffs in 2022/23.
Grant, who is under contract through next season before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2023, would be one such piece. The 28-year-old forward is a talented, versatile defender who has expanded his offensive game during his two seasons in Detroit, averaging 21.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.6 APG on .427/.352/.842 shooting in 99 total games as a Piston.
Grant will also become eligible for an extension this offseason, and reports prior to the trade deadline suggested he’d want a new team to be willing to offer a new contract, which could be worth up to about $112MM over four years.
Grant will earn a $20,955,000 salary next season. Portland created a $20,864,198 trade exception in the McCollum deal which would theoretically allow them to acquire Grant without sending back any salary, since trade exceptions include $100K in extra wiggle room.
Also as a result of the McCollum trade, the Blazers will receive the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round pick if it falls between No. 5 and No. 14. They’d consider putting that pick into an offer for Grant, Charania reports.
Without the Pelicans’ first-round pick, Portland’s package likely wouldn’t be as strong as what other Grant suitors could offer, according to Charania, whose wording hints that the Blazers may not want to make their own first-rounder available if it’s the only one they have (there would also be complications related to the Stepien rule in that scenario, though the club could work around those issues if necessary).
lol so replace CJ with Grant and hand him a fat contract? wtf are blazers doing. might as well blow up the whole team and get assets for Lillard
It’s time for Lillard to go.
Lillard has made it clear he’s not going anywhere, and most teams won’t want to gamble on the idea that he’ll just deal with it if he gets traded anyway. At this point, the Blazers don’t have much choice but to keep trying to build around him.
They could keep him but also not trade awesome first round picks for guys that aren’t going to make a difference.
You are right. Grant is only younger, cheaper, better defender and rebounder. Portland also received a lottery pick. So, there was no reason to trade CJ.
And makes less
… and doesn’t largely duplicate the role Simons can play
Makes sense, gives them more balance with a big wing scorer that can defend instead of a backcourt that’s all offense. A total rebuild wouldn’t make sense anyway if you plan on building around Dame, dude’s not getting any younger.
Grant keeps improving and is a much better and versatile defender than CJ. Plus he adds size.
CJ is & will always be a far better player, yes smaller, but still better!
But also cost more and have to many redundant qualities to fit with Lillard and or Simons.
Right now that pick from NO is at 11 and would go to Portland. I think that and a future first (probably protected) would get the deal done. The Pistons need to move Grant to make room for their draft pick coming up, to add a second lottery pick to solidify the bench would put Detroit right where I think they are looking to be. Plus they have a ton of cap room (especially after moving Grant).
Portland may want Jerami but a top10 pick plus another 1st seems like a whole lot… Bledsoe, Watford & a 1st for Jerami seems a lil more doable
I agree, lottery pick and expiring, Bledsoe is kinda even better than an expiring for a team like Detroit.
So Lillard, Simons, hart, grant, nurkic. Simons probably moves to bench as 6th man and they add a 3 and d with the mid-level.
Could always look to move nurkic too.
Nurkic is about to be a free agent
Can’t move Nurk unless it a sign and trade but both sides seem amenable to a continued partnership. I think next year is a retool but a little exploration as well. They’ll probably start Simons next to Lillard to see what they got then reevaluate towards mid-season to decide to ride with what they got or start the rebuild.
Little was playing pretty good before he got hurt. That’s the 3 right there.
He was playing small ball 5 a lot, not really 3 and d guy. More just d.
Blazers won’t be relevant again for prob 4, 5 years. We’ll get ink on them so long as Lillard is on the roster, but they’ll be a lottery team in no time.
Not if there team is
Lillard
Simons
Little
Grant
Nurk
Ingles
Hart
1st thru 9th pick
Winslow
Elleby
Keon
Watford
That’s actually a pretty good team next year.
Except Ingles will be recovering from surgery and most likely won’t be available if he resigns. I also think they’d start Hart at the 3 over Little unless they pick someone else up.
They’re all fine but who are they beating? If the goal is the bubble great. Otherwise they are wasting their time. At least CJ finally escaped, but it’s probably too late for him too honestly
Yeah that is an underwhelming 8 man rotation with a few potential developmental projects, which they do not have time for if they are keeping Lillard. I think he is going somewhere whether he wants to or not. He doesn’t have a no trade clause does he?
You didn’t trade anyone for Grant in your scenario QB. Grant will cost more than one first and blazers owe their 2023 to bulls.
Come to NY Jerami …..
What I think so many people forget is that this is supposedly a weaker draft. If you’re going to pick a year to give up 2 first round picks this is going to be that year. I have little doubt that fans don’t want to give up their picks in the first round but once you get past the top 3 or 4 guys it is a crap shoot every year.
Last years draft was loaded and we are seeing exactly how good it was with Cade, Barnes, Mobley, Giddey, Wagner, Green. Suggs has time to come around but it was a really talented draft class.
This year is similar to 2 years ago. Wiseman, Ball, and Edwards were the top of that class (or so it was believed) and the drop off was severe after that. Detroit added 2 really good core pieces in Bey and Stewart while giving up little.
It’s a tough pill to swallow to give up too much draft capital. There are 30 guys taken I. The first round every year and most will be roll players at most for their careers. Grant is above average and some may feel that a sure thing for 4-5 years is better than 2 unknown commodities.
Determine what you want to do with Lillard, extend 2 yrs 100m ? Before committing to Grant….Still not championship roster, playoff roster, yes….