In a one-on-one situation driving to the hoop to get a basket Jerami Grant would be our second best option after Damian Lillard. It seems that people here are comparing Jeremy Grant to a level of perfection or Kawhi Leonard. The type of player that these people want to get we'd have to trade Anfernee Simons or Damian Lillard. I am all for getting such a player but please be aware of the cost and tell what you'd give up to get that player.
with RoCo there were at least some statistical reasons for hope: I do not criticize his defense as a Blazer as much as some others do. He didn't have enough fingers to plug all of the leaks. I tend to agree on Grant. I've said before I'm a little confused about why Blazer Brass has seemed so attracted to Grant. Maybe it's deflection? Or maybe, they have noticed that Grant's best seasons in terms of offensive efficiency and defense were when he was a 3rd option and believe Dame can moderate Grant's chucking habits Portland's best defensive teams in the Dame/CJ era had Aminu/Harkless as the starting forwards. But those two were wildly inconsistent on offense. What Portland hasn't had, at least since Aldridge, is 2-way players, especially in the front-court. Good on both ends of the floor. Maybe that's what Blazer management sees in Grant. I just hope they recognize that Grant is nowhere close to the level of a PG13 or Kawhi or Butler...or even a Siakam. And they don't overpay for him
Grant is a player that can be called upon to defend the other teams best player and also called upon to hit a game winner if he is being defended by one player. He has done both successfully this season with Detroit.
I can't buy into this. If the best talent you could get that's already in the league is only worth the 15th or 16th pick, why would you give up the 9th or 10th pick to get him? This sounds like the rationale that brought us RoCo for two first-rounders at the edge of the lottery and Larry Nance Jr. for a first rounder at the edge of the lottery. I don't like the way either of those played out.
@wizenheimer ...it may be that Cronin isn't that high on Grant, but instead, there are rumors because he fits the TPE, and Dame has expressed interest. It seems like most of us are hoping Joe can do better. That is a lot of money to pay a guy who doesn't rebound, can't shoot, and doesn't play D anymore.
Grant expects to be paid like Kawhi or Siakam, and expects to be on team on which his role is like that of Kawhi or Siakam. This is why that is the standard against which he is being compared; because that is the level of player like which he expects to be treated. If it is understood that he is not actually that level of player, then it makes sense for people not to want to acquire him. Furthermore, the concept of "opportunity cost should not be disregarded. The trades from last month were made under the auspices of "creating flexibility to build a contender around Dame". If one doesn't believe that Grant can/will contribute to the building of a contender, then it makes sense not to commit resources toward his acquisition, because those resources would no longer be available for deals that might actually contribute to building a contender.
Is his defense that good? Rebounding is part of defense and he is bad at that. Negative DBPM for last three years. Dtrg is 114 last two years.
Good topic. But I personally need more time. As usual about this time of the year, more and more players are emerging. I need to know who we are essentially giving away with that pick, and who we are drafting with the other lottery pick....if we end up with 2. Ideally for me is we get lucky with the ping pong balls. If we could get a solid PF and center in this draft, I would keep both picks. I realize that he is better than what we could get with the MLE. but is he that much better that we give up good young players? Plus Grant is 210 lbs with a 7'3" wing. Nassir Little is 220 with a 7'2" wingspan. Is he better than Nas? Yes, but is he that much better? And before anyone brings up the injury history with Nas, This is the history for Grant last year December 2021: Jerami Grant out with torn ligaments in his thumb October 2021: Jerami Grant out with an elbow injury April 2021: Jerami Grant shut down with a knee injury March 2021: Jerami Grant misses time with a quad injury I would rather draft a PF that is bigger than both, and then also draft Duren.
So he's not a good rebounder. Whom are you comparing him with? There needs to be a player to player comparison when evaluating anyone.
Duren, The guy who one of his negative qualities is he's the last guy up the floor? No thank you. We need guys with 100% motor.
Doesn't play D? Can't shoot? That's not Jerami Grant. Grant can make a game-winning shot and stop a guy like Jason Tatum from scoring on the next possession. He may not he the best defender or the best shooter, but he definitely can shoot and defend.
You may be right, and if there is another center that is better I am ok with that. But I would say that at least 80% of the time when a star player is knocked for their "lack of motor" in college....we never actually find that to be true in the NBA.
Giving up a lotter pick to get a guy who's being paid what he's worth is not a good deal. Grant makes almost $20m/year, and I'd rather have a lotter pick on a rookie deal and spend that money on Ant and Little (who have upside to be better than Grant) than getting ourselves back into salary cap purgatory by getting better-than-average players on market-value deals. I also don't prioritize doing anything to make Dame happy. Whether he's on the roster or not, we shouldn't be mortgaging our future like we have the last several years.
again, Brandon Clarke isnt even starting in memphis and they are spoiled for players atm - i dont think we'd have to give up as much as we would likely need to with Grant and i think BC is a better fit all around. he plays hard, runs hard, is athletic and knows his role. lezgo!
He can speak for himself, but I agreed with his post. The Blazers don't need to go out of their way to make Dame happy by signing players he likes. they just need to make the team as good as possible for the short and long term. And IMO that means keeping Dame for the next 3 years. Sure one can argue that trading Dame for a player that is younger is the wise move, but you never know if that player will re-sign with Portland in 3 years. So you might as well keep him knowing that his leadership skills will help with the younger players.
