With CJ McCollum no longer a part of the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard is going to need a new star to help him carry the franchise. Lillard, who has been some sort of a forgotten man this season because he missed a bunch of games due to injury, reportedly shares a mutual interest with Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant about being on the same team, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report:

Grant seemed to be at the top of their list. He and Lillard have a relationship dating back to their days with Team USA, and they share an interest in playing together once again, sources said. In years prior, Lillard has indicated to Portland leadership several two-way, rangy wings such as Grant, Ben Simmons, Aaron Gordon and Jaylen Brown as the type of playing partner he preferred, sources said.

Even with the interest of both parties, getting Grant to the Blazers is going to be easier said than done, mainly because Portland just lost a key draft capital that would have been a tasty asset as bait. When the Blazers traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans, one of the returns Portland got was a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. But with the Pelicans beating the San Antonio Spurs in the Play-in Tournament, that pick (1-4 and 15-30 protected) that's supposed to be Portland's went up in flames.

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Trading for the 28-year-old Grant would also likely mean that the Blazers will accept the risk of having the forward for just a season, with Grant only having one season left on his current deal.