Joe Cronin must lower asking price on Blazers’ burdensome trade piece

Happy New Year! The start of a new calendar year is a time for reflection, and the Portland Trail Blazers could certainly use some of that heading into 2025. Portland entered the 2024-25 season intending to gain more clarity surrounding their roster, but they still have plenty of conundrums and a jumbled roster that needs sorting out.

They have an excess amount of centers, a coach that needs to emphasize player development more, and veterans cutting into roles for up-and-coming players. Hopefully, some of these glaring issues will be addressed this year, beginning with the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

One player in particular that needs to be promoted to a starting role is Deni Avdija, who has arguably been Portland’s best player lately, averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on efficient 53/43/80 in December. That makes their next move obvious: moving veteran Jerami Grant.

Blazers must move Jerami Grant by the trade deadline

Several other players could be traded by the deadline, including Robert Williams III, Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, and Matisse Thybulle, but Grant is the most essential piece to move. He’s the oldest player on the roster at 30 years old and the second-highest paid at $29.8 million, which jumps to $36.4 million in 2027-28 when he has a player option.

The Blazers must preserve their financial flexibility. It’s been clear from the start that Grant was never part of the rebuilding equation, considering they signed his five-year, $160 million deal just one day before Damian Lillard requested out of Portland. They don’t want to be on the books for Grant’s massive contract going forward in their rebuild.

The ideal time to trade Grant was this past summer. There was a point late in the offseason when he was arguably the most coveted asset on the market after that wave of blockbuster free agents and trade targets — Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray, etc. — were off the table.

But GM Joe Cronin’s high asking price of two first-round picks backfired. Grant’s play this season has hindered his trade value as his scoring has dipped from 21 to 15 points, and his field goal efficiency has gone from 45.1 percent to 38.2.

Additionally, players like Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith have been acquired for second-round picks, and several other valuable role players — Jonas Valanciunas, Malcolm Brogdon, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and Jordan Clarkson — are reportedly available for a similar price , according to NBA insider Marc Stein via The Stein Line.

It’s time for Cronin to lower his asking price.