The NBA trade deadline is roughly three weeks away, and if you've been following the Portland Trail Blazers lately, you know the vibes are... complicated. On one hand, the team is surprisingly feisty under interim coach Tiago Splitter. They’re sitting at 20-22 as of mid-January 2026, which is way better than the "basement dweller" predictions most of us had in October. But on the other hand, Jerami Grant trade rumors are louder than ever.
It’s the same old song, right? Every February, we hear about how a contender needs a versatile wing who can defend three positions and knock down 39% of his threes. And every year, Joe Cronin keeps the phone on the hook. But 2026 feels different. The math is starting to get scary for Portland.
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The Bucks are Desperate (and Calling)
Let’s talk about Milwaukee. The Bucks are currently 17-24. Giannis is still Giannis, but the roster around him is basically a house of cards. Reports from Ashish Mathur and other league insiders suggest the Bucks are "desperately" hunting for talent to save their season. They’ve been linked to everyone from Ja Morant to Zach LaVine, but Jerami Grant is the name that actually makes sense for their scheme.
Milwaukee needs a wing who doesn't need the ball to be effective. Grant fits that. He’s currently averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Those aren't "empty stats" either; he’s doing it on 44/39/87 shooting splits. Honestly, he’s playing some of the most efficient basketball of his career right now.
The kicker? Grant is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. Paul already has a footprint in Milwaukee with guys like Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince. In the NBA, those connections usually mean smoke leads to fire. If the Bucks are willing to part with Bobby Portis or Kyle Kuzma—who they acquired last year in a deal that just hasn't clicked—to balance the books, a deal could happen fast.
The Deni Avdija Dilemma
Why would Portland trade their best veteran while they're actually winning games? It’s basically about Deni Avdija.
The Blazers essentially "stole" Avdija from Washington, and he has quickly become the face of the franchise. He’s younger, cheaper, and frankly, more central to the future. But Avdija is on a front-loaded contract that makes future extensions tricky. As Bobby Marks from ESPN recently pointed out, Portland needs to clear long-term salary if they want to lock down their young core of Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara.
Grant is owed roughly $102.6 million over the next three seasons. That includes a massive $36.4 million player option for the 2027-28 season. For a team that still needs to figure out if Scoot Henderson is "the guy," carrying that much money for a 31-year-old veteran is a massive risk.
What is the actual asking price?
For the longest time, the word around the league was that Cronin wanted two first-round picks. Nobody was paying that. Recently, however, reports suggest the Blazers have lowered the bar. They’d likely take one unprotected first-round pick and a legitimate young prospect.
Potential Landing Spots Beyond Milwaukee
While the Bucks are the loudest in the room, they aren't the only ones checking in on Jerami Grant trade rumors as the February 5 deadline approaches.
- The Los Angeles Lakers: They’ve been linked to Grant since last offseason. They need a wing defender. They always need a wing defender. Jake Fischer has mentioned them as a persistent suitor, though the Lakers' lack of tradeable first-round capital makes a deal tough unless they include someone like Austin Reaves (unlikely) or multiple pick swaps.
- The Golden State Warriors: There is a wild hypothetical floating around involving Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga has reportedly grown frustrated with his role under Steve Kerr. If the Blazers want to take a swing on a high-upside 23-year-old, a Grant-for-Kuminga framework is the kind of "consolidation" trade that changes the trajectory of a rebuild.
- The Dallas Mavericks: They’re currently dealing with the fallout of Anthony Davis’s latest injury. While they’re focused on the "Cooper Flagg sweepstakes" according to some cynical analysts, they still have a window with Luka Doncic that they can't afford to waste.
Why a Trade Might Not Happen
There is a very real chance Joe Cronin stands pat. He likes Grant. The locker room likes Grant.
The Blazers are only two games under .500. If they make the Play-In tournament, that playoff experience is invaluable for guys like Sharpe and Camara. Trading Grant now would be a "white flag" move. It would essentially tell the fans that the front office cares more about the 2026 draft lottery than the progress the team has made on the court this winter.
Also, Grant has a trade kicker. He likes living in Portland. He isn't pushing for a move. In a league where stars usually force their way out, having a veteran who actually wants to be in a rebuilding city is a rare luxury.
What Should You Watch For?
If you’re tracking this, look at the minutes for Kris Murray and Toumani Camara over the next week. If the coaching staff starts heavily prioritizing their development over Grant’s crunch-time touches, that’s your signal.
The February 5 deadline is the hard cutoff. Between now and then, keep an eye on the Milwaukee Bucks’ record. If they keep sliding, they will get desperate enough to overpay. That’s when the Jerami Grant trade rumors turn into a breaking news notification on your phone.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Monitor the Salary Match: Any Grant trade requires roughly $30M-$32M in incoming salary. If you see a team like the Lakers or Bucks moving "filler" players in smaller deals, they might be clearing a spot for a larger acquisition.
- Check the Injury Report: Grant has dealt with some minor Achilles soreness recently. If he sits out games leading up to the deadline, it's often a "safety measure" to ensure a deal doesn't fall through due to a failed physical.
- Draft Capital Matters: Portland specifically needs picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts. Watch if interested teams trade their future picks elsewhere first; that would effectively take them out of the Grant sweepstakes.