The Portland Trail Blazers’ goal this NBA offseason was to upgrade the roster around superstar point guard Damian Lillard. The first steps in that process have been completed, as the Trail Blazers have already upgraded the roster before free agency even began.
Before the 2022 NBA Draft got underway, the Trail Blazers finally landed Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons. It was a deal that had been discussed seemingly for weeks, as it was an open secret that Portland had Grant as their No. 1 target.
While many speculated that it would cost the Trail Blazers the No. 7 overall pick to land Grant, the price was significantly cheaper. They sent a 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks to Detroit, retaining the No. 7 pick, which they used on Shaedon Sharpe.
Sharpe is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft class as he didn’t play collegiately at Kentucky, only practicing with the team. So, the only information teams really have on him is from when he was playing in high school and workouts that he took part in.
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But, that is yet another high-upside player that Portland has added to the mix that could help them down the line. If another trade materializes, Sharpe could be used as a sweetener in the deal.
With free agency now just hours away, there is still some work to do. Re-signing center Jusuf Nurkic and guard Anfernee Simons are atop that to-do list. Once those moves are completed, the Trail Blazers will reportedly break the bank for Lillard. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Portland is set to make Lillard the highest-paid player in the NBA.
“Having landed Lillard’s one-time Team USA running mate Jerami Grant from Detroit before the NBA draft, Portland is now expected to offer the All-NBA guard a two-year contract extension that will exceed over $100 million, sources told B/R.”
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard Wants To Play With Deandre Ayton On Portland Trail Blazers
Signing Lillard to that supermax extension likely ensures that he remains in Portland for the foreseeable future. There had been a lot of rumors swirling that he could ask for a trade and force his way out of town, but that contract, coupled with the moves they have made and could still make, should be enough to entice him to stay with the only organization that he has known as a professional.
