The Portland Trail Blazers signed Jerami Grant to the biggest deal of his decade-long career, last July. The five-year, $160 million contract blew pundits away, with many stunned by the size of the deal, questioning whether it was an overpay.
Some were also confused by Grant’s decision to stay in Portland despite Damian Lillard's request for a fresh start and a guaranteed rebuild.
But there was a lot that also made sense too. Grant was securing generational wealth to play in a situation where he would maintain a key offensive role. The rationale for the Blazers was simple — don’t lose an asset for nothing while keeping an adult in the room.