The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly eyeing Jerami Grant as a potential trade target, and on the surface, it’s not hard to see why. A 6-foot-7 wing who can score 20 a night and stretch the floor with nearly 40% shooting from deep? That’s a profile any contender would take a long look at-especially one trying to keep a generational star like Giannis Antetokounmpo happy.
But dig a little deeper, and the fit starts to look a lot more complicated.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Portland Trail Blazers traded for Grant back in the summer of 2022, then doubled down with a five-year, $160 million extension the following offseason.
Not long after, Damian Lillard requested a trade. It doesn’t take a front office insider to see the timeline didn’t line up.
Portland invested in Grant to try and retool around Lillard, and by the time the ink dried, their franchise cornerstone was already halfway out the door.
Now, Grant’s contract is one of the more cumbersome deals on Portland’s books. He’s in the third year of that extension, making $32 million this season, with over $70 million still owed-including a player option in 2027-28. That’s a hefty price tag for a player who, while talented, isn’t exactly the kind of needle-mover that guarantees contention.
Last season was a low point for Grant. Statistically, it was his worst campaign since becoming a full-time starter.
His efficiency cratered, and his defensive impact took a serious hit. But to his credit, he’s bounced back this year.
His scoring is up, his shooting touch has returned, and he’s regained some of the form that made him a coveted two-way wing in the first place.
That resurgence has turned heads around the league-and Milwaukee’s interest makes sense in theory. The Bucks need more scoring on the wing, and Grant checks that box.
He’s a more plausible fit than some of the other names floating around the rumor mill. Compared to a high-risk swing like Ja Morant or an injury-prone star like Anthony Davis, Grant feels like a safer, more attainable option.
But here’s the catch: he’s also a classic buy-high candidate. His value is peaking right now after a rough 2024-25 season, and that’s exactly when you want to be cautious.
His shooting has improved, but he’s still not quite back to the efficiency levels he showed in his earlier Portland years. And defensively, the decline is real.
The metrics tell the story-his defensive rating and on-off splits are the worst of his career. At 31, Grant’s no longer the versatile stopper he once was.
So what would a deal even look like? The simplest structure would likely involve sending out Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis.
But does that package-with or without Portis-actually move the Bucks closer to a championship? That’s the question Milwaukee’s front office has to wrestle with.
Because bringing in Grant might not be enough to convince Giannis that this team is ready to take the next step.
And that’s the real issue here. If the Bucks are making moves with Giannis in mind-as they should be-then they need to be sure those moves actually shift the landscape.
Grant, for all his talent, probably doesn’t. If he regresses even slightly, his contract becomes an anchor.
Portland knows that all too well.
There’s also the matter of opportunity cost. The Bucks have limited trade assets, and burning them on a player like Grant could take them out of the running for a bigger, more impactful move down the line.
Someone like Zach LaVine-another rumored target-might carry an even larger paycheck, but he also brings more explosiveness, more efficiency, and a higher ceiling. That’s not to say LaVine is the perfect solution either, but if Milwaukee’s going all-in, it needs to be for a player who can truly elevate the team.
Jerami Grant is a good player. He’s having a strong season.
But for a team with championship aspirations and a superstar whose future is always in the balance, “good” might not cut it. The Bucks can’t afford to repeat Portland’s mistake-investing big in a player who doesn’t actually change the equation.