The Portland Trail Blazers lost their season opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a close contest. However, the Blazers did have a promising performance with their defense and bench scoring. Starting forward Toumani Camara, who recently signed a contract extension with Portland, continued to demonstrate his defensive versatility. Starting center Donovan Clingan, another prominent member of their young core, was a rock-solid rim protector.
Jerami Grant also had a superb performance, playing off the bench for the first time since 2019. The 31-year-old forward scored 29 points to lead the Blazers in the 114-118 loss. He was ultra-efficient as well, shooting 10-14 from the floor.
Before the season, his spot in the rotation was a dilemma. Now, it looks like Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has found the best role for the 11-year veteran.
Chauncey Billups Found Optimal Jerami Grant Blazers Role
The Blazers have a strong defensive core with the current roster. Camara, Clingan, and Jrue Holiday are all positive defenders who can carry the team to victory. Offensively, the team relies on Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija in Portland’s starting lineup.
Off the bench, they lack a scoring punch. With Grant playing as a sixth man, the Blazers have a reliable option. In fact, he fits in well with most players as an off-ball option. At the same time, Grant can also create for himself with drives to the hoop and solid self-creation.
Therefore, Grant can still be one of the team’s most important players in a sixth man role. He might not be a starter, but it could be good for both he and the team. Certainly, now that the Blazers have postseason aspirations again, putting players in their most optimal roles is wise.
To that point, Grant is a reliable defender. That was actually his calling card while playing for contenders like the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Nevertheless, he’s getting older and that tends to have a negative effect on players’ defense. At 31, Grant could still be a great spark plug offensively though. He has a natural knack for scoring, including a reliable jump shot. Indeed, Billups went with Grant in the first quarter to replace Sharpe.
If the Blazers can stagger their minutes, Portland could have a strong offense. With that being said, Grant’s contract is tough to trade. As a result, the Blazers should be even more motivated to utilize him properly.
“I’m just trying to play basketball, to be honest. Whatever it is, I’ll accept it, but I’m just trying to play basketball,” Grant told reporters after the game (h/t Brenna Greene of KOIN News). “Wherever I’m at, I’m gonna do what I gotta do… I don’t become a worse player because I’m coming off the bench.”
Ultimately, Billups’s decision to move Grant to the bench is a great one. His contract might be one of the biggest, but that does not mean he should have an automatic starting spot. The same goes for Holiday, who will have competition when Scoot Henderson returns from his hamstring injury.
Starting Lineup Can Still Change
The Blazers rotation is quite versatile because Sharpe, Avdija, Camara, and Grant could all swap places. They could also play alongside each other, as Grant showed he can play the small-ball center role as well.
Bearing that in mind, Portland feels like they have a solid starting lineup now, but it can still change. If Grant keeps playing well, he could be rewarded with a move into the starting lineup. It’s well-known that the gritty Billups loves for his players to compete for their spots.
It will be challenging to usurp Sharpe, Camara, and/or Avdija but Grant will do his best. He already showcased himself against Minnesota, proving he can still lead the charge when given the green light. Of course, his performances won’t always be as good as that. However, if the Blazers want to reach the playoffs, Grant proving himself could be key.
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