The Detroit Pistons made it clear weeks ago that times are changing in the Motor City following the team's return to the postseason this past year.
During an interview, a Pistons executive noted that Detroit is no longer the "cap-space Pistons" and should now be considered the "playoff Pistons," moving forward. The reality of this statement is that the decision was made years ago, and contract negotiations with one veteran can be pinpointed as the moment the shift happened, allowing for last season's playoff run to come together.
The individual in question is none other than veteran forward Jerami Grant and the five-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers before the 2023-24 season. Not chasing down Grant by offering him such a deal was the right decision by Detroit's front office at the time, and has them in a position now that Portland can only wish they were in, as Grant has regressed with the Trail Blazers.
New mailbag is up covering Jerami Grant's role on this year's Blazers team, Jabari Walker/Dalano Banton exits, and how they'll balance playing veterans and young players https://t.co/rjNPAW2fr3
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) August 4, 2025
Overpaid Former Pistons F Jerami Grant Getting Benched in New Season
According to Sean Highkin of RoseGardenReport.com, the former Syracuse Orange standout is no longer considered a starter for Portland. This would, without question, make him one of the league's most expensive reserves, which is not the title any NBA player wants to hold down.
As Highkin points out in his piece, the only justification for keeping Grant in the starting lineup moving forward would be the money that the Trail Blazers are paying him to be on the roster. From a purely basketball perspective, there are younger and better options available to Chauncey Billups on this roster.
Deni Avdija is a better player for Portland than Grant is right now and costs the Trail Blazers roughly half as much to employ. The numbers back that up as Avdija averaged more points, rebounds, assists, and steals than Grant did despite playing fewer minutes per game.
The same argument can be made for Toumani Camara after the 25-year-old established himself as a starter in Portland with his play over 78 games last season. While his scoring average per game was just a couple of points below Grant's, Camara and Avdija, for that matter, were far more efficient from the field than the 37.5% conversion rate Grant boasted, as both shot at above a 45% clip.
Fortunately for the Pistons and their fans, Grant and his contract are not their problem. The Trail Blazers can figure out the best way to deal with the nearly $100 million remaining on the veteran forward's deal while Detroit focuses on what looks to be a bright future.