The Portland Trail Blazers are treading water. At 23–23, they sit ninth in the Western Conference as of January 25, 2026, close enough to the playoff race to spark hope but uneven enough to force real questions about where this team is headed.
*Prediction*
Portland has won seven of its last ten games and flashed real potential. Still, injuries, careless turnovers, and inconsistent defense continue to limit how far this group can go. The franchise now stands at a familiar fork in the road: push ahead with a roster that has clear flaws or shift toward long-term clarity.
Trading Jerami Grant could be the decision that finally signals the latter.
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Jerami Grant Potential Trade Idea
Blazers Receive: Jordan Poole, 2028 first-round pick
Pelicans Receive: Jerami Grant
Injuries Have Defined Portland’s Season
Portland’s inconsistency comes down to one thing: availability. Injuries have forced twelve of the team’s 15 players to miss time, including key rotation pieces and core contributors.
Scoot Henderson has battled hamstring problems. Matisse Thybulle lost games to a thumb injury. Jerami Grant has also missed time with an Achilles issue. Those absences have pushed the Blazers into constant lineup changes and prevented them from building any real rhythm on either end of the floor.
If Portland wants to climb the standings, it needs help that fits its long-term direction. Right now, that fit just isn’t there.
Why Jordan Poole Makes Sense for Portland
Jordan Poole’s NBA career has taken two very different paths. He first thrived as an instant-offense scorer on a championship Warriors team, then shifted into a high-usage role where efficiency became a problem. This season, he is putting up 14.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 37 percent from the field.
The skill is still there. He can pull up from deep, get to the rim with flair, and heat up quickly. The issue is consistency. Questionable shot selection, defensive breakdowns, and turnovers limit his impact when a team asks him to lead. That uneven play explains why his success in Golden State has not carried over and why his name keeps surfacing in trade talks.
For Portland, that risk is acceptable. The Blazers see it as a calculated bet. Poole is young enough to grow alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, and he adds a scorer who can create without structured sets. In a low-pressure environment built around development, Portland can afford to find out whether Poole can tap back into his best version. If he cannot, the draft pick still holds value.
Why Jerami Grant Elevates New Orleans
Jerami Grant remains what he has always been: a high-level two-way forward who shines in a complementary role. He averages 19.2 points per game, the second-highest output of his career. He attacks the rim with force, knocks down threes, and uses his defensive versatility to guard multiple positions. His length and athleticism still matter, especially in playoff environments.
Grant doesn’t profile as a franchise cornerstone. He fails to rebound at a high rate for his size, lacks natural playmaking instincts, and has never found consistent efficiency from the mid-range.
That said, when a team asks him to serve as a third or fourth option, the fit makes sense. For a Pelicans group pushing to win now with Zion Williamson and the current core, Grant adds instant balance on both ends of the floor.
Why This Trade Works for Portland
This move locks Portland into a youth-focused timeline. Grant carries a large veteran contract and doesn’t fit the franchise’s long-term core. Trading him frees up future cap space and delivers a first-round pick that could hold real value by 2028.
Poole also brings some upside. If he settles in as a reliable scorer and secondary playmaker, Portland either adds a legitimate rotation piece or creates another trade chip for later.
Even if Poole never finds efficiency, the Blazers still come out ahead with added flexibility and draft capital. For a team still shaping its identity, that matters far more than pushing for a ninth-seed finish.
Why This Trade Works for New Orleans
The Pelicans aren’t rebuilding. They’re pushing to win now. Grant gives them a dependable two-way forward who defends multiple spots, stretches the floor, and fits smoothly alongside their core. He complements defensive anchors like Herb Jones and adds steady scoring without needing the offense to run through him.
Moving on from Poole also sharpens the picture. He has talent, but his inefficiency and defensive lapses introduce swings that don’t fit a team chasing playoff results. Grant may be older, but he brings structure, experience, and consistency. Sometimes, that’s the real upgrade.
Final Take
This isn’t a headline-grabbing blockbuster. It’s a calculated move built on timing.
Portland commits to development, assets, and flexibility. New Orleans adds a proven piece who raises the team’s floor right away. For both sides, this trade matters less about winning today and more about matching direction with reality.