NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers' Jerami Grant Not Expected to Be Shopped at 2024 Deadline

Although Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant could be a good fit for a playoff contender, it doesn't appear his current team is interested in offloading him before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

"Jerami Grant would represent an absolute difference-maker for both Dallas and the Sacramento Kings, another leading suitor for Siakam," Fischer wrote. "The Kings have made Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter and Davion Mitchell available in trade conversations, sources said. However, Portland is not expected to seriously entertain offers for Grant, league sources told Yahoo Sports, in contrast to veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon."

The 29-year-old Grant, who is on the first year of a five-season, $160 million contract, has averaged 21.1 points on 45.5 percent shooting for Portland this year.

The Blazers are struggling through another lost season that will likely end with them missing the playoffs for the third straight year. At 10-29, Portland sits nine games out of the play-in picture with just over half a season left. The beginning of the post-Damian Lillard era has naturally proven to be difficult for Portland.

That begs the question of whether the Blazers would offload veterans such as Grant or Malcolm Brogdon, who apparently could be gone by Feb. 8 if Fischer's report is any indication.

With Grant, there's the issue with his contract, which now runs through 2028. But if Portland is looking to turn this around within a year or two, he could be a key piece to that reconstruction.

The team in theory has some players in place to be more competitive, whether they be veterans (Grant), younger players who have a few years of experience (Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton), or rising talents a year or two into their NBA careers (Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson).

Injuries have certainly taken a toll (only two of the top six scorers have played more than 30 games) and hindered this team's ceiling. But it's not impossible to think another offseason of moves and draft picks could put Portland in a better place next year.

This season might be a lost cause for now, but as it stands, it appears Grant is part of the Blazers' future.