With Damian Lillard officially shut down for the season, the Portland Trail Blazers are focusing all their attention on the summer, when they have the opportunity to re-shape the roster.
While their options are somewhat limited this upcoming offseason, Sam Amick did report one name that they are expected to target: Detroit’s Jerami Grant.
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to seriously pursue Pistons forward Jerami Grant in the offseason, sources said. Armed with the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round draft selection, the Trail Blazers will explore offering the pick should it fall between Nos. 5 and 14 in the June draft. If the pick does not fall in that range and convey to Portland this offseason, the organization’s package falls behind competing teams that are chasing Detroit’s versatile forward. Grant is eligible for a four-year, $112 million contract extension in the offseason.
Grant and Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard played together in Team USA’s gold medal run in the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
Grant, who was drafted in 2014, has long been linked to the Blazers. Ahead of February’s trade deadline, Portland was among his most aggressive suitors before ultimately failing to secure a deal. When the season finally ends next month, t’s only naturally that they continue where they left off on that front.
In 45 games with the Pistons this season, the two-way swingman is averaging 19.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 35% shooting from downtown.
Besides adding some depth and talent in the frontcourt, Grant’s skills on the defensive side of the ball would be an answer to prayers for the Blazers, who currently rank 27th in points allowed and 28th in opponent field goal percentage.
Without Norman Powell, CJ McCollum, and Robert Covington, the Trail Blazers are without much of the signature players that helped keep them afloat over the past two seasons.
But with Grant, the hope is that he would be enough to help give the franchise a new identity and provide Lillard with the support he has needed for all of these years.
