The Portland Trail Blazers are changing direction this offseason.
General manager Joe Cronin has already traded away longest-tenured Blazer Anfernee Simons and released talented-but-inconsistent center Deandre Ayton.
However, there's still one glaring move Portland would like to make: offloading the three-year, $102.6 million contract of forward Jerami Grant.
The only problem? Portland can't find a buyer.
According to Forbes NBA contributor Evan Sidery, the Blazers are working to trade Grant but his contract is a massive hurdle.
"The Trail Blazers have unsuccessfully been attempting to offload Jerami Grant’s contract," he wrote. "Paid $102.6 million over the next three seasons with declining production, Grant’s contract is viewed around the NBA as a negative asset."
When Grant signed a five-year, $160-million deal in the summer 2023 he was viewed as a potential franchise-stabilizing force in the wake of Damian Lillard's desire to be traded.
While the "Lillard-to-Bucks" deal wasn't done for another several weeks, Grant was positioned to either be incentive for Lillard to remain in Portland or a key veteran to lead the next Blazers era.
Instead, Grant has struggled.
Last season, the 31-year-old averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game - nearly five points per game lower than in any of his previous four seasons.
Unsurprisingly, the $30-million-plus pricetag on a potentially-declining player has made Cronin's job difficult.
Portland wants to move on from Grant.
It remains to be seen if they can find someone to take him.