The Portland Trail Blazers have done what was expected this season. After parting ways with Damian Lillard, the Blazers were destined to have this kind of season. 11-29, Portland knows that they have interesting players to offer in this market in order to propel a full re-build.
Malcolm Brogdon is a reliable player who has caught the attention of contenders looking for reinforcements, he could become a bargaining chip to make room for the talented Scoot Henderson, the third pick in the last draft.
On the other hand, Jerami Grant, who renewed his contract just a day before Damian Lillard requested a trade, has sparked speculations that he will remain (or not) in Portland.
The common school of thought dictates that a rebuilding team, as the Blazers presumably will be after Lillard's trade request, should get rid of players over the age of 25 or veterans with hefty contracts. However, both Trail Blazers management and Jerami Grant seem to take a different perspective.
General manager Joe Cronin shows resistance to the idea of a total rebuild, citing recent examples of teams that invested in veterans to revitalize their performance. Cronin aims to prevent the Blazers from going the way of young teams that lack leadership and experience, exemplified by the Rockets and Pistons in past seasons.
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Jerami Grant, after an impressive performance scoring 30 points on 14-of-16 shooting in the recent win over the Brooklyn Nets, expressed his commitment to the team and his willingness to contribute both on the court and in the locker room.
"You definitely see it," Grant said in reference to the transfer rumors. "But it's not something that's in my control. I'm fine here. I'm fine with what I'm doing. I keep my head down and keep working, keep trying to help the young guys as much as I can. But it's certainly something you see. You can't do anything about it, especially since I just signed a contract. I'll be here as long as they want me to be."
Jerami Grant's name will continue to come up in trade rumors between now and the deadline, but he tells me he isn't eager for a change. "I'm cool here. I'm good with what I'm doing. Keep my head down and keep working, keep trying to help the young guys as much as I can. I'm here…
