Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant drives against the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Portland Trail Blazers tipped off a minor surprise before opening night. Head coach Chauncey Billups announced his starting lineup to reporters on October 22 – and it did not include one of the franchise’s highest-paid players.
The Blazers plan to start Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and second-year center Donovan Clingan when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves to open the 2025–26 season.
That leaves Jerami Grant, the team’s $160 million forward, coming off the bench.
Chauncey Billups: "I feel like we have seven starters on this team—those five, Jerami and Scoot. For the first year, I had some really tough decisions to make, and I like that. Jerami was incredible in camp." https://t.co/Ei9QGkRJ6R
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) October 21, 2025
“I feel like we have seven starters on this team — those five, Jerami and Scoot,”Billups told The Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin. “For the first year, I had some really tough decisions to make, and I like that. Jerami was incredible in camp.”
Grant’s Future Role in Question
Grant signed a five-year, $160 million contract in 2023, a move initially designed to help keep Damian Lillard content in Portland before his eventual trade to the Milwaukee Bucks. Two years later, the veteran forward’s role has become one of the biggest questions surrounding the Blazers’ rebuild.
During preseason, Billups tinkered with multiple lineups while Camara sat out with a minor injury. Once Camara returned, he was immediately reinserted into the starting five, a clear sign that Billups values the defensive balance and chemistry Camara brings to the frontcourt.
“I like that these guys already have some synergy,”Billups told The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman. “They’ve played together quite a bit. They’re starting to really get to know each other. They kind of balance each other out. We have some downhill drivers, some shooters, a lot of things that work together.”
That cohesion, Billups suggested, outweighed salary or seniority when finalizing the starting group.
Grant’s Comments Add Context
Grant himself admitted earlier this month that he wasn’t sure he would still be in Portland heading into the season, an acknowledgment of the trade rumors that surrounded him over the summer. At 31, he’s entering his 12th NBA season on a roster with an average age of just 26.3, according toRealGM, signaling that Portland’s priorities are focused on youth development.
Still, Grant remains an integral piece. Since joining the Blazers in 2022 via trade from the Detroit Pistons, he’s averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting nearly 40% from three. He’s also logged over 32 minutes per game in each of the past two seasons, though that number could dip in a bench role.
What It Means for Portland
Billups made it clear that the lineup decision isn’t necessarily permanent. If matchups or team performance call for change, Grant could easily slide back into the starting five. His size, experience, and scoring versatility remain valuable for a team still building around young cornerstones Scoot Henderson and Sharpe.
Grant’s willingness to adapt could also set the tone for a locker room undergoing transition. He already trimmed his shot volume last season – averaging 14.4 points, his lowest in five years – to make room for the Blazers’ emerging guards.
For now, though, the veteran forward begins the season in an unfamiliar role: coming off the bench, watching as Portland’s youth movement takes center stage.