The Portland Trail Blazers are in an odd spot at the moment. They executed a small and quick rebuild around Damian Lillard, but the current roster doesn’t seem like they can win consistently either. The Blazers moved on from CJ McCollum by giving more play to Anfernee Simons and acquiring Jerami Grant, and while both players have succeeded individually, the team has remained pretty normal.
Jerami Grant is an interesting case to look at in terms of his future. He is currently in the final season of his contract. Grant is an excellent scorer at the NBA level, he is averaging 21 points per game this season, shooting with excellent efficiency. He can be an incredible third option on a contending roster, and with the Trail Blazers in turmoil, might not be entirely sold on staying with the organization. Grant revealed that the Portland Trail Blazers had made him a contract offer already.
Jerami Grant on Monday told @TheAthletic the Blazers have offered him a 4-year, $112 million extension but he will likely wait until after the season to make a decision. He has until June 30 to accept the offer. (1/3)
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 31, 2023
“Jerami Grant on Monday told @TheAthletic the Blazers have offered him a 4-year, $112 million extension but he will likely wait until after the season to make a decision. He has until June 30 to accept the offer.”
Grant’s last contract saw him earn about $20 million per year, and he will be looking for a significant upgrade on that. He has the talent to be paid highly if he hits unrestricted free agency, and other franchises can offer Jerami Grant $174 million over 4 years. Not just that, the Trail Blazers themselves will be able to offer him upwards of $230 million over 5 seasons after June. So it’s not that surprising that Jerami Grant turned them down.
Jerami Grant On Refusing The Contract Offer From The Portland Trail Blazers
For players in this position around the league, the recent case of Jalen Brunson is an excellent example. He bet on himself after the Dallas Mavericks didn’t offer him a contract in the middle of his final season, and it paid off with the New York Knicks giving him a massive bag. Jerami Grant will know this, even though his answer to not signing an extension at the moment sounds more innocent.
“I’m kind of focused on the season at hand right now. Probably will wait until after the season and talk to (GM) Joe (Cronin). Everything is good. I like it here. Really enjoying it. So, yeah … we will discuss it when it’s time.”
While Jerami Grant is a valuable player, it’s hard to see the Trail Blazers offering him a deal worth more than $45 million a year, even if they can do that. They remain committed to building around Damian Lillard and, as such, will need more flexibility than that. In that case, a trade for Jerami Grant before the trade deadline might be a good idea for the Blazers, but what happens next remains to be seen.
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