The Portland Trail Blazers extended their runway by going the route of the rebuild this offseason. Portland General Manager Joe Cronin moved franchise superstar Damian Lillard to plunge headfirst into youth. With that, the urgency and pressure to put together a title team now got pushed back a few years.
Regardless of that longer timeline, by February’s NBA Trade Deadline, Cronin and company must navigate the next pressing decision in the never-ending project of roster-building: what to do with veterans Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon.
The organization must determine whether to move Grant and/or Brogdon, two of its best players, in the name of prioritizing development for younger players and further asset collection; or keep them for the readymade talent and mentorship they provide.