Blazers HC Chauncey Billups Found Optimal Jerami Grant Role

Therefore, Grant can still be one of the team’s most important players in a sixth man role. He might not be a starter, but it could be good for both he and the team. Certainly, now that the Blazers have postseason aspirations again, putting players in their most optimal roles is wise.

To that point, Grant is a reliable defender. That was actually his calling card while playing for contenders like the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Nevertheless, he’s getting older and that tends to have a negative effect on players’ defense. At 31, Grant could still be a great spark plug offensively though. He has a natural knack for scoring, including a reliable jump shot. Indeed, Billups went with Grant in the first quarter to replace Sharpe.

If the Blazers can stagger their minutes, Portland could have a strong offense. With that being said, Grant’s contract is tough to trade. As a result, the Blazers should be even more motivated to utilize him properly.

“I’m just trying to play basketball, to be honest. Whatever it is, I’ll accept it, but I’m just trying to play basketball,” Grant told reporters after the game (h/t Brenna Greene of KOIN News). “Wherever I’m at, I’m gonna do what I gotta do… I don’t become a worse player because I’m coming off the bench.”

Ultimately, Billups’s decision to move Grant to the bench is a great one. His contract might be one of the biggest, but that does not mean he should have an automatic starting spot. The same goes for Holiday, who will have competition when Scoot Henderson returns from his hamstring injury.

Starting Lineup Can Still Change

The Blazers rotation is quite versatile because Sharpe, Avdija, Camara, and Grant could all swap places. They could also play alongside each other, as Grant showed he can play the small-ball center role as well.

Bearing that in mind, Portland feels like they have a solid starting lineup now, but it can still change. If Grant keeps playing well, he could be rewarded with a move into the starting lineup. It’s well-known that the gritty Billups loves for his players to compete for their spots.

It will be challenging to usurp Sharpe, Camara, and/or Avdija but Grant will do his best. He already showcased himself against Minnesota, proving he can still lead the charge when given the green light. Of course, his performances won’t always be as good as that. However, if the Blazers want to reach the playoffs, Grant proving himself could be key.