The NBA is filled with big-money contracts, and more are added to the books as the salary cap rises with each passing season. While some players find ways to live up to their rising value, others' performances fail to match their contractual value, leaving the teams that signed those contracts filled with regret.
The Detroit Pistons have signed their fair share of regrettable deals throughout their existence. Fortunately, their current contract situation is more favorable than others, especially when compared to a certain franchise that likely isn't happy with one former Piston's latest performance.
Former Pistons Forward Jerami Grant Robbed Trail Blazers Blind
The Pistons said goodbye to several key names during their rebuild, including Jerami Grant. The veteran forward was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2022 offseason, and enjoyed his time so much that he signed a five-year, $160 million extension with his new time, just over a year after the trade.
While the former 2014 second-rounder's play was initially worth every penny he earned, it didn't take long for his contract to look like one of the worst in the NBA.
For starters, injuries forced Grant to miss nearly half the season, limiting him to 47 appearances — tied for the fewest of his career. Unfortunately, the ex-Pistons vet couldn't maximize his playing opportunities as he averaged only 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 37.3% from the floor and 36.5% from deep.
In comparison, he averaged 21.0 points on .451/.402/.817 shooting split just one year earlier. Needless to say, Grant didn't live up to his $29.7 million cap hit.
It'd be one thing if he were set to hit free agency this summer, but the Trail Blazers are seemingly stuck with Grant for the foreseeable future. He's under contract for the next three seasons with about $96 million due, and that's without mentioning a $36.4 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. He might not have a no-trade clause; however, it's hard to imagine Portland having an easy time moving his contract.
Grant played his best basketball in the Motor City, so it's sad to see how rapid his decline has been since his exit. Having said that, the Pistons clearly made the right decision to part ways when they did, leaving the Trail Blazers to figure out what to do with the 31-year-old veteran who just robbed them blind with a forgettable 2024-25 season.