Potential action the Portland Trail Blazers should have undertaken during the 2025 NBA offseason
The 2025 offseason for the Portland Trail Blazers was marked by the return of Dame Lillard and a renewed energy around the team. However, the real test lies not in what they added, but in what they failed to subtract. One of the most intriguing stories revolves around Jerami Grant, a high-paid veteran who may find himself coming off the bench this season.
Despite his $160 million contract, Grant's role with the Trail Blazers is shifting towards a reserve position. This is unusual and, if he remains with Portland, he may become one of the most expensive bench players in the NBA. This situation underscores the Blazers' uncertain roster construction and their attempts to manage cap space and team dynamics amid potential trades and rebuilding plans.
The Trail Blazers have been trying to trade Grant this offseason, but their reluctance to give up significant draft capital to move him has left him on the roster for the 2025-26 season. Initially, the team had aimed to trade both Grant and Anfernee Simons, but Simons was the one who was eventually moved. The team's clear stance on keeping Grant, despite challenges with his role and fit, is evident.
The retention of both Grant and Jrue Holiday, the team's two highest-paid players, creates complications for the starting lineup. Paying such large salaries to potentially headline the second unit is seen as problematic from both basketball and optics perspectives.
In summary, the Trail Blazers' failure to trade Jerami Grant is blocking development, limiting flexibility, and potentially depreciating value. Trading Grant would have sent a strong message about the franchise's direction, focusing on the young core of Shaedon Sharpe, Trendon Watford, and Josh Hart.
Grant still has value in the right context, but his value could sink with every missed game. The Trail Blazers have a young core that needs on-ball reps, closing minutes, and the freedom to play through mistakes. Grant's presence is clogging the rotation at center and demanding shots, potentially stunting the growth of this promising trio.
Moreover, trading Grant would have allowed the team to prioritize wing development. The Trail Blazers could have gained over $30 million in future cap flexibility by trading Grant, providing more room for manoeuvre in the upcoming seasons.
Unlike the Trail Blazers, teams like Oklahoma City and Orlando have made decisive moves this offseason. The Blazers, on the other hand, have failed to make such moves, leaving them on the edge of stagnation in the loaded Western Conference.
In the end, the Trail Blazers' inability to trade Jerami Grant is a testament to their current predicament. The team finds itself in a cap conundrum, balancing the need for youthful development with the obligations of high-paid veterans. As the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the Trail Blazers navigate this challenging situation.
- The Trail Blazers' inability to trade Jerami Grant, despite rumors of his potential departure, has left him on the roster for the 2025-26 season, causing concerns about their roster construction and cap space management.
- Jerami Grant's draft capital, combined with his high salary, has made him one of the most expensive bench players in the NBA, especially when considering the Trail Blazers' uncertain future and need for youthful development.
- The Trail Blazers' failure to trade Grant has blocked development, limited flexibility, and potentially depreciated value, as his presence clogs the rotation at center and demands shots, potentially stunting the growth of their young core in the loaded Western Conference.
