Mavs Trade Deadline Update: Blazers 'Resistant' to Trade Jerami Grant

The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly been "keeping tabs" on Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant, but they might have to look elsewhere for their starting power-forward upgrade.

After the Dallas Mavericks were linked to Pascal Siakam in several trade rumors, the two-time All-Star was ultimately traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Indiana Pacers last week. The Mavs reportedly didn't make a big push for Siakam, likely because they knew they didn't have enough available draft capital to get the job done.

Now, with a little more than two weeks remaining until the NBA trade deadline, the Dallas front office is still in search of frontcourt upgrades in a starting-caliber power forward and a backup center. With Siakam off the board, Portland Trail Blazers versatile forward Jerami Grant has been reported as a player the Mavs are "keeping tabs" on. However, according to Marc Stein, it doesn't look like Portland is going to move him anytime soon.

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"Portland has been repeatedly described by rival teams in recent weeks as resistant to the notion of trading forward Jerami Grant, who figured to be a target for some teams that missed out on Siakam," Stein wrote.

"The Blazers, despite their 12-29 struggles entering Sunday’s play in Year 1 of the Scoot Henderson Era have been trying to convince an array of skeptics leaguewide that they really want to keep Grant after signing him to a five-year, $160 million deal that many interpreted as a move designed to enhance Portland's chances of keeping Damian Lillard happy. Lillard requested a trade out of the Pacific Northwest last summer one day after Grant's deal was verbally agreed."

NBA Trade Rumor: Mavs 'Keeping Tabs' on Jerami Grant; Interest in Kyle Kuzma?

Through 36 games played, Grant is averaging 21.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field, including 40.9 percent from deep. As good of a fit as Grant would be alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, though, the Mavs can't force the Trail Blazers to trade a player they don't want to trade. Grant has also recently voiced how he's content being in Portland.

As the trade deadline inches closer, Grant will certainly be a name we'll be keeping an eye on, because situations can change in a hurry this time of year. That said, we'll see if the Mavs can gain more traction on deals for other versatile forwards like Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma, Brooklyn Nets' Dorian Finney-Smith, Charlotte Hornets' P.J. Washington and others.