Report: Blazers’ Jerami Grant Doesn’t Want To Get Traded

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant doesn’t want to get traded. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in acquiring Grant, but the Blazers and Lakers haven’t made progress on a deal. 

“Few players want to face the general uncertainty of moving midseason, especially those who have enjoyed newfound stability for the first time in their careers,” Fischer reported. “That has been the same word about Portland forward Jerami Grant, sources said, despite rival teams’ interest in the veteran Trail Blazer.”

Grant is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, the agent who represents Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Grant appeared in 54 games for the Blazers in 2023-24. He averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 45.1% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line.

Grant will make $29.8 million next season. He signed a five-year, $160 million contract with the Blazers last July.

The 30-year-old Grant has career averages of 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Blazers.

“They’re stubborn,” an NBA exec told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports about the Blazers. “Part of the job is to be stubborn, though. But part of the job is also seeing your mistakes and getting out of them. Grant was a mistake. Trading him now just to get out of that salary is the right thing to do, take whatever picks or young guys you can get.”

The Blazers went 21-61 this past season. They drafted UConn center Donovan Clingan with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft. 

Grant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control his future. It will be fascinating to see what the Blazers do with the Syracuse product.