NBA Rumors: Blazers 'Resistant' to Trade Jerami Grant Before 2024 Deadline

After star forward Pascal Siakam was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Indiana Pacers last week, teams have turned their attention to other players on the trade market.

The Portland Trail Blazers have been fielding interest for forward Jerami Grant, but NBA insider Marc Stein reported that they are reluctant to trade the veteran.

"Portland has been repeatedly described by rival teams in recent weeks as resistant to the notion of trading forward Jerami Grant, who figured to be a target for some teams that missed out on Siakam," Stein stated.

Grant is in the first year of a five-year, $160 million contract after he re-signed with Portland over the offseason. He has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Blazers, who sit last in the Northwest Division with a 12-30 record.

In 37 games, Grant ranks second on the team with 21.7 points per game while also adding 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He's also shooting a career-best 40.3 percent from three-point range, making him a coveted target for teams seeking three-and-D wing players.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported last week that Grant is among the players that the Los Angeles Lakers plan on pursuing prior to the Feb. 8 trade deadline. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto noted that the Dallas Mavericks are looking for frontcourt upgrades and have "kept tabs" on Grant as well.

Scotto went on to explain Portland's hesitation to trade Grant, stating that the 29-year-old is "viewed as a good locker room leader, a compliment to the team's core of young guards on the roster, and has maintained his two-way versatility and efficient three-point shooting."

The Blazers have another veteran who's drawn interest from around the league in point guard Malcolm Brogdon, and many consider him more likely to be traded than Grant.

It's apparent that changes are coming to Portland, but it remains to be seen if the team receives an offer enticing enough to move on from one of its top players.