The Blazers must make some difficult roster choices

The Portland Trail Blazers have been improving steadily over the last several seasons, even if they may not yet be at the level needed to qualify for the Western Conference playoffs. The 2024–25 season saw them win 36 games, which was their highest total in the previous four seasons. And with the way players like Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, among others, have been growing, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the Blazers.

It's difficult to imagine a player in the league enjoying a more privileged existence than Jerami Grant in recent seasons. Grant agreed to a five-year, $160 million contract with the Blazers in 2023, but both his value to the club and his output this past season drastically declined. This past season, the Blazers spent $29.8 million for Grant's services, and he delivered just 14.4 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting.