Blazers' Jerami Grant on NBA Trade Rumors Ahead of 2024 Deadline: 'I'm Cool Here'

Adam WellsJanuary 18, 2024

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 17: Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the Moda Center on January 17, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 105-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

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Jerami Grant's name has popped up in trade rumors ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline, but he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave the Portland Trail Blazers.

Speaking to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report, Grant said he's "cool here" referencing Portland while admitting he's seen the speculation:

"You definitely see it. But it's not anything in my control. I'm cool here. I'm good with what I'm doing. Keep my head down and keep working, keep trying to help the young guys as much as I can. But it's definitely something you see. It's not something you can do anything about, especially since I just signed a deal. I'm here for as long as they want me."

The Blazers' decision to keep Grant in free agency by giving him a five-year, $160 million contract raised a lot of eyebrows. It was a huge investment in a good 29-year-old player for a franchise entering the first stage of a rebuild after trading Damian Lillard.

Granted, the Lillard deal didn't come together until a few months after Grant's deal got done. But it wasn't a surprise that Lillard decided this was the right time to leave Portland.

CBS Sports' Brad Botkin called Grant's deal one of the worst given out by any team in free agency, calling him a " a third-option, sub-All-Star player making the same average annual salary that Jayson Tatum is making on his current contract."

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Even though it would seem to make sense for a Blazers team evaluating young talent and building around players like Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson to at least consider trade options for Grant, it doesn't appear that is going to happen during the season.

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings had interest in the 10-year veteran, but the Blazers are "not expected to seriously entertain offers" for him.

The Blazers' 11-29 record is the second-worst mark in the Western Conference, four games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs (7-33). They snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 105-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Grant has been a bright spot in Portland this season. He's averaging 21.4 points on 41.2 percent three-point shooting in 35 starts.