Grading the 11 biggest headline-grabbing day 1 NBA Free Agency signings

Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

The contract: 5 years, $160 million

Full disclosure, I’m not really sure what the Portland Trail Blazers are up to. Roughly now that most of the big NBA Free Agency dominoes have fallen, there’s still much unresolved for the Blazers as it pertains to Damian Lillard. Dame wanted the Blazers to make some win-now moves to help put him in a position to compete in the Western Conference next season. The Blazers simply have not done that. Still, there’s no evidence that Lillard is going to demand a trade.

Something is coming. I’m not sure what it is. However, to open free agency, the Blazers re-signed Jerami Grant to a huge $160 million deal over five years. This is something they almost had to do if the Blazers are going to have any shot at retaining Dame. However, the Blazers haven’t done anything else that would show Lillard this team is ready to compete for a championship.

The next few days should be interesting. The Grant move is something that had to be done. But this is the type of move that will only look worse if Lillard ends up being traded, which at this point wouldn’t be all that surprising.

Grade: B