Memphis Grizzlies newcomer Jerami Grant has been tabbed as one of the most overpaid forwards in the NBA.
Earlier this offseason, the Memphis Grizzlies brought an end to star guard Ja Morant's tenure with the team by trading him to the Portland Trail Blazers.
In exchange, the Grizzlies acquired forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
It wasn't a huge return for a player who was once considered the cornerstone of the Grizzlies franchise, but it did bring some playable pieces to Memphis ahead of the 2026-27 season, including a veteran in Grant who has had some really solid seasons in the NBA.
The 32-year-old, however, isn't playing on a cheap deal. He will make about $34 million this coming season (and has a player option worth about $36 million for the following season), and his 2026-27 salary is large enough that he has earned an "overpaid" label from Bleacher Report.
In an exercise where players were named to an All-Overpaid First Team (two players at guard, two players at forward and one player at center), Bleacher Report essentially gave Grant an honorable mention and put him in the All-Overpaid Second Team category.
For what it's worth, Grant, despite not playing on a super team-friendly deal, doesn't appear to be at risk of being moved right now. A report from Heavy Sports earlier this offseason indicated that the Grizzlies have "no plans" of trading him "this year," with the hope being that he can provide a veteran presence for their young players.
A later piece from Heavy Sports did, however, list Grant as a player to keep an eye on at the deadline if he plays well this season.
No matter how long his stint with the Grizzlies lasts, he'll look to make the most of it. As a player with 12 years of NBA experience under his belt, he should indeed be able to provide value from a leadership perspective.
But his on-the-floor contributions could also be large. He has had three seasons in the NBA in which he's averaged 20+ points per game, including as recently as the 2023-24 season.
Last season, his fourth and final with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Grant also has a solid amount of postseason history, so if the Grizzlies find themselves lurking as a potential play-in or playoff team, his experience will come in handy.
Overpaid or not, the former second-round pick is going to have a chance to make an impact in Memphis.
