After plenty of rumors, the Portland Trail Blazers finally pulled off the Jerami Grant trade, acquiring him from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks. The Blazers are trying to retool around Damian Lillard, and Grant gives them a rangy wing who should help improve their defense while also bringing some scoring punch.

After the trade was reported, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, commented on the deal:

Just last summer, there were rumblings that Lillard was going to ask for a trade. The Blazers star opted against that and ultimately expressed his loyalty to Portland once again, and he maintained that stance even as the new front office tore things down around him.

It's now time to build back up around him, with this move for Grant being a step in the right direction. The Blazers simply accepted Grant into a big trade exception and traded a pick that likely will be a late first in 2025, so they didn't give up much to get him. They will be in line to pay him a big extension soon, but the assumption is that will happen.

Now there are rumors about Portland making more moves. Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby is at the top of the Blazers' wishlist, and they still have the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to dangle in trades. If they're somehow able to get Anunoby, an OG-Grant pairing at forward is real nice.

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Even if the Raptors don't relent on Anunoby, Portland has backup plans. Oklahoma City Thunder wing Lu Dort is another option being reported.

Portland deserves some credit for sticking to its guns and trying to build another competitive roster with Dame. While the road was bumpy this past season when it came to the product on the court and trades of CJ McCollum, Norman Powell and Robert Covington, perhaps the Blazers can turn this thing around. Even if it doesn't work out and Lillard winds up getting dealt in the near future, at least they're trying to make it work now.