There are expectations that the Portland Trail Blazers will strongly pursue the Detroit Pistons wingman Jerami Grant in the offseason.
The Blazers will try to capitalize the New Orleans Pelicans’ 2022 1st round draft selection and other key players in order to acquire Grant, hoping that the said pick will fall down between No. 5 and No. 14 to make things convincing on the part of the Pistons (h/t Shams Charania of The Athletic).
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to seriously pursue Pistons forward Jerami Grant in the offseason, sources said. Armed with the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round draft selection, the Trail Blazers will explore offering the pick should it fall between Nos. 5 and 14 in the June draft. If the pick does not fall in that range and convey to Portland this offseason, the organization’s package falls behind competing teams that are chasing Detroit’s versatile forward.
Portland acquired the New Orleans’ draft pick this year from the bountiful CJ McCollum trade last February. Without main man Zion Williamson, while committing to some risky adjustments, NOLA still managed to pass the abysmal Los Angeles Lakers in the ninth seed of the Western Conference with a 30-41 card. Indeed, it’ll be interesting how the seedings and the fortunes in the postseason can impact the draft capital from the perspective of the Blazers.
Grant has been a consistent name within the Rip City’s wish list ever since the earlier parts of this season. His versatility and skillful intangibles can truly mesh with superstar Damian Lillard’s offensive intangibles and explosive scoring.
The 27-year-old forward still has one year left in his contract. If ever there is a mutual interest between him and the Motown in terms of a long-term partnership, he can ink a reported $112 million extension in the upcoming summer.
