The Portland Trail Blazers added veterans this offseason when they signed Damian Lillard and traded for Jrue Holiday. Last season also saw several young players emerge. That has the Blazers starting lineup somewhat in flux.
Veteran forward Jerami Grant is one player who expects to start. Grant said, “I don’t really expect that.” when he was asked about coming off of the bench for Portland.
Grant has started in all 164 of the games he’s played for the Trail Blazers over the last three seasons. The veteran forward has three seasons and $102.6 million left on the five-year contract he signed with the Blazers in 2023.
Portland has forwards Grant and Toumani Camara, wing Deni Avdija, and guards Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson (when the latter is healthy enough to play), along with center Donovan Clingan, all in contention for starting spots. That’s seven players for five spots when everyone is healthy. It’s unclear how Chauncey Billups will approach the starting lineup, given the Blazers mix of veterans and younger players with upside.