Should the Blazers Move On From Jerami Grant?
Jerami Grant is the Portland Trail Blazers' most talented player, but questions linger about his fit with the team's future. While he provides a consistent scoring threat and solid defence, his contract and his age raise concerns about his long-term value.
A recent email to the Blazers Edge Mailbag posed the question: "Is trading Grant really a good idea, or would it be a step backwards?"
The answer, like many things in life, is a complex one. While losing Grant would undoubtedly weaken the team, his age and the team's overall direction paint a picture of a mismatch.
Grant's individual performance is not in question. He delivered an impressive 21 points per game last season, shooting 45% from the field, including a stellar 40.2% from three-point range. He can defend effectively and is a reliable free-throw shooter. However, these strengths are hampered by the team's current state.
The Trail Blazers are a young, rebuilding team, and Grant, at 30 years old, doesn't fit the timeline. His skillset, while valuable, doesn't translate well to a team lacking the experience and talent to truly leverage his abilities.
The team's overall lack of talent and experience exposes some of Grant's weaknesses, particularly his interior play and rebounding. While these shortcomings are less noticeable on a more established team, they become more pronounced on a team still searching for its identity.
The question then becomes: what difference does it really make? While Grant can score 20 points a game, so can other players on a team that is not contending for a championship. His defensive contributions are also negated by the lack of quality players around him.
It's like having a talented carpenter with all the right tools, but lacking the materials to build anything substantial.
However, Grant's contract, while initially seeming hefty, is now considered more in line with league averages. It's a contract that could be attractive to other teams, giving the Blazers leverage in a potential trade.
Trading Grant is a decision that requires careful consideration. It's not an urgent move, but one that should be made with the long-term future of the franchise in mind. Whether the Blazers ultimately decide to move on from Grant, or wait to see if he can thrive alongside a more developed team, will be a critical decision in their rebuilding journey.
