NBA Rumors: Blazers' Jerami Grant Could Sign Pistons Contract in Free Agency
The Detroit Pistons traded Jerami Grant to Portland last summer, but it does not appear there was any lingering bad blood.
James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported a Grant-Pistons reunion could be in the works this summer when the veteran swingman becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Grant is averaging 20.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season while serving as the team's third scoring option behind Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. The formula hasn't produced winning basketball yet with the Blazers sitting at 26-27, but it seems unlikely Portland will want Grant to be one-and-done.
The Blazers offered Grant a four-year, $112 million extension, their maximum possible offer, but the 28-year-old appears determined to test his market value.
"I'm kind of focused on the season at hand right now," Grant told The Athletic's Jason Quick. "Probably will wait until after the season and talk to [GM] Joe [Cronin]. Everything is good. I like it here. Really enjoying it. So, yeah ... we will discuss it when it's time."
Grant won't lack for suitors on the open market, but it'll be interesting to see how aggressive teams are in pursuit. He's a decidedly non-max player, serving as a third banana on a play-in contender after two years competing in the Eastern Conference basement in Detroit.
The Grant type of players are always tricky because they're good enough to put a contender over the top but not elite enough to change the trajectory of a struggling or midlevel franchise.
Detroit is expected to be aggressive on the free-agent market this summer with upward of $50 million in potential cap space.
