Is Jerami Grant the Right Guy for the TrailBlazers?
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
After a regular season full of downs and major changes, the Portland Trailblazers have made a move to acquire Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant. Grant was a two-year starter with the Pistons and during his stint in Detroit he averaged 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Portland is trying everything within their power to keep Damian Lillard there. With Grant there now, could he be a viable second option to Lillard?
Grant was a highly sought out prospect going into the 2022 NBA offseason. Both the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks were two teams linked to him early in the process. Hawks allegedly had a trade package for the Pistons. The rumored trade was Bogdan Bogdanovic and the 16th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. Whatever the Hawks offered was not enough and to the surprise of many, Grant was only shipped out for a 2025 first round draft pick via Milwaukee. The Pistons were seen as the immediate losers in that trade, however Detroit has already flipped that pick for center Jalen Duren of Memphis and Knicks guard Kemba Walker.
Grant’s initial appeal is defense. He established his methodical and intense defensive play early in his career, ranking in the top 15 for blocks per game (1.6) in only his sophomore season. In Detroit, he improved on the offensive side averaging a career high of 22.3 points per game in his first season as a Piston. With experience as a primary scoring option, Grant has emerged as a high-quality two-way player, something the Trailblazers have not had in a long period of time.
Jerami Grant defending Nets forward Blake Griffin in Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan on May 26, 2021 | Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
One of Portland’s biggest issues over the years was their lack of depth in the forward position. In the 2018-19 season, the season the Blazers went to the Western Conference Finals and got swept by the Warriors, their starting forwards were Maurice Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jake Layman. Harkless and Aminu both only had one season where they scored over 10 points. The best forward the Blazers have had in years was Nicolas Batum and he has not played for them since 2015. Grant is a big upgrade with their current squad and with the selection of the 6-foot-6-inch wing player Shaedon Sharpe; the team could begin to strengthen their forward positions.
Jerami Grant is back home and entering his prime at the age of 28. Portland’s management wants to build around Lillard and starting with a solid defensive player like Grant is a good first step. C.J.McCollum and Lillard found a lot of success together in Portland but could never get to the NBA Finals. Grant has gotten better over the years and could be a good fit for the team. Although it does not mean that he is missing piece for them. The Trailblazers are expected to be in search of a new center this offseason as well.
