Entering a pivotal offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers struck early as free agency opened on Friday, bringing back Jerami Grant. However, re-signing Grant may not be enough to satisfy superstar Damian Lillard.
Shortly after news broke of Grant’s new deal with the Trail Blazers, NBA insider Chris Haynes said on NBA TV that the move to keep the 29-year-old forward wouldn’t “appease” Lillard, adding that the team needed to do more.
Lillard hasn’t been bashful about wanting a more solid unit surrounding him in Portland. Haynes confirmed Lillard’s wants earlier on Friday.
“He wants veteran help. He wants a team that can contend for a championship right now,” Haynes said, via NBA TV. “So, that’s what he’s urging the Portland Trail Blazers to do.
Lillard is 32, and he’s played in only 87 games over the past two seasons. With two years remaining on Lillard’s four-year contract, time is running out for the Trail Blazers to build a championship-caliber team around him. Re-signing Grant is an excellent first step, even if the price is steep. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Grant and the Trail Blazers agreed to a five-year, $160 million deal.
An estimated $21 million below the NBA luxury tax and armed with mid-level ($12.4M) and trade ($8.3M) exceptions, Portland could spend some more. Lillard is probably counting on it.
