All offseason long, we have discussed how the Sacramento Kings need an upgrade at power forward if they plan on taking their team to the next level. Even after acquiring DeMar DeRozan (a move that will likely push Keegan Murray to the power forward spot), the team has been shopping around for another deal.
One of the names the Kings have been connected to is Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. Last week, it was reported that the Blazers were likely to move either him or Anfernee Simons before the start of the 2024-25 season. However, it looks like Grant doesn't want to leave Portland. Here is what Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Jake Fischer mentioned in a news dump on Monday:
"Few players want to face the general uncertainty of moving midseason, especially those who have enjoyed newfound stability for the first time in their careers. That has been the same word about Portland forward Jerami Grant, sources said, despite rival teams' interest in the veteran Trail Blazer."
Grant Is Fine Not Playing In The Playoffs
Listen, these are professional basketball players we are talking about here. They are all more competitive than 99% of the human population. They wouldn't be where they are right now if they weren't.
But if Fischer's words are true (we have no reason to believe they aren't), it seems like Grant is cool with playing on a team that will probably (unless something drastically changes) be a bottom-feeder in the loaded Western Conference over the next few years (if Grant takes his player option, he will be under contract with the team through the 2027-28 season).
Grant's teams (the Blazers and Detroit Pistons) have missed the postseason in each of the last four years. The last time he played in the playoffs was during the famous 2020 Bubble when he was with the Denver Nuggets (who fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals).
Outside of Grant, the Kings have also been interested in forwards like Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Lauri Markkanen. As an aside, Markkanen will also become unavailable to trade for this season if he signs an extension with the Utah Jazz after August 6.
All indications are Lauri Markkanen won’t sign any extension with Utah until after the day he becomes eligible to re-up with the Jazz tomorrow, league sources told @YahooSports, ruling the talented 27-year-old off the trade market for the 2024-25 season: https://t.co/VqfxRC1ehu
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) August 5, 2024
Last season, Grant appeared in 54 games for the Blazers, averaging 21.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG on 57.3% true shooting in 33.9 minutes per contest. He finished in the 61st percentile in Estimated Plus-Minus (per Dunks & Threes). On a good team, Grant could be a very useful role player (as he proved to be on the Nuggets).