No team in the NBA was more active at this season's trade deadline than the Portland Trail Blazers. Even after making multiple deals prioritizing the future over the present, though, interim general manager Joe Cronin apparently still had hopes of bringing in an impact player.

According to veteran league scribe Marc Stein, the Trail Blazers offered the Detroit Pistons a package including the just-acquired Josh Hart and draft assets in exchange for Jerami Grant at the trade deadline. However, it was rebuffed by Pistons general manager Troy Weaver.

Part of the reason Portland continues to be regarded as a determined future trade suitor for Detroit's Jerami Grant stems from persistent rumbles that the Trail Blazers tried to get Grant at the trade deadline in February after completing their CJ McCollum trade to New Orleans. The Pistons rebuffed those pitches, apparently wanting more than the Blazers could package at that stage in an offer said to feature Josh Hart and draft compensation.

The Trail Blazers' interest in Grant was well known, but details of the team's offer to the Pistons hadn't previously been made public.

Multiple reports have surfaced recently that the Trail Blazers remain frontrunners for Grant should the Pistons finally move him this summer.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and STADIUM reported two weeks ago that Portland will “explore” making the New Orleans Pelicans' first round pick available in a potential Grant trade should it be conveyed this offseason. Rip City acquired that asset in the big trade sending CJ McCollum to NOLA. It will only head to the Trail Blazers if the Pelicans miss the NBA Playoffs and the pick falls between nos. 5-14 on lottery night. Otherwise, Portland will receive the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first round pick from the Pistons to fulfill the parameters of the deal.

The Trail Blazers' prospective offer of a late lottery pick is expected to be the highest-value asset available to the Pistons in any possible Grant trade. While surrendering the chance to draft a cost-controlled young player would be a tough pill to swallow, Portland is essentially obligated to seek major roster upgrades this summer after Damian Lillard put rampant speculation of his exit to rest on multiple occasions throughout 2021-22.

Retaining Hart while adding Grant would go a long way toward addressing the team's holes in the wing, especially defensively. Both players can switch across multiple positions and boast the two-way versatility to occupy different roles over the course of a game depending on the opponent, surrounding personnel, and circumstances of time and score.

Expect rumors of the Trail Blazers trading for Grant—eligible for a four-year, $112 million extension this summer—to persist until the Pistons make a decision on his future in the Motor City.