Category: Portland Trail Blazers Blog

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Grant left Saturday night’s game at Utah during the fourth quarter and did not return.

Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Grant will now begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Protocol. This process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom-free behavior before resuming basketball activities. There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.

The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed center Ibou Badji to a two-way contract.

Earlier today, the team waived two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea.

Bouyea appeared in six games for the Trail Blazers and two games for the Rip City Remix this season.

In six games this season with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, Badji has averaged 3.5 points (71.4% FG, 33.3% FT), 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 15.3 minutes per game. During the 2022-23 season, he posted 7.4 points (61.8% FG, 66.7% FT), 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in seven games (all starts) for the Herd prior to signing with the Trail Blazers. A native of Senegal, he also played for the country in the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in seven games.

Badji originally signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers on Nov. 18, 2022. He was re-signed on July 6, 2023 and later waived on Oct. 24, 2023.

An MRI conducted on Portland Trail Blazers forward Ish Wainright revealed an MCL sprain in the left knee.

Wainright is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Per the Oregonian, “Wainright, 29, claimed off waivers last month, has appeared in two games for the Blazers this season. He has also played with the Rip City Remix.”

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III injured his right knee during Sunday’s game vs. Memphis. After consultation, it has been determined that Williams will undergo surgery to repair ligament damage.

Williams is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Injuries have derailed much of his still-young NBA career.

Per the Oregonian, “in Williams, 26, the Blazers landed a high-end backup center to Deandre Ayton, brought in from Phoenix. Losing Williams dramatically thins the Blazers’ depth behind Ayton.”

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons injured his right thumb during Wednesday’s game at LA Clippers.

A subsequent MRI conducted Thursday evening revealed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the right thumb.

Simons is set to have surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Per the Oregonian: “Expected to be the team’s leading scorer this season following the departure of Damian Lillard, Simons scored 18 points to go along with four assists in the Blazers’ 123-111 loss the the Clippers.”

The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday signed center Duop Reath to a two-way contract.

The team have also requested waivers on center Ibou Badji.

During the 2023 Preseason, Reath appeared in four games and averaged 7.8 points (47.6% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 72.7% FT), 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 16.2 minutes per game for the Trail Blazers. Reath participated in 2023 Las Vegas Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in five games.

In April of 2023, the LSU alum signed with Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon and in 10 games, he posted 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.5 blocks in 32 minutes per game. Reath was also a member of the 2020 Australian National Team along with fellow Trail Blazers teammate Matisse Thybulle as they earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Portland Trail Blazers have converted the contract of guard Justin Minaya to a two-way contract.

Minaya appeared in four games during the 2022-23 season for the Trail Blazers and averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 22.3 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, Minaya played in 27 games (25 starts) for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League, recording averages of 12.7 points (48.7% FG, 33.9% 3PT), 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 35.1 minutes during the 2022-23 season.

The Trail Blazers have also requested waivers on forward John Butler Jr., center George Conditt, forward Kevin Knox II and center Duop Reath.

The Portland Trail Blazers have claimed forward Ish Wainright off waivers.

During the 2022-23 season, Wainright appeared in 60 games (two starts) and averaged 4.2 points (37.0% FG, 32.9% 3-PT, 83.9% FT), 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 15.3 minutes per game for the Phoenix Suns. In two seasons, Wainright appeared in 105 games (two starts) and holds career averages of 3.4 points (37.8% FG, 32.8% 3-PT, 76.7% FT), 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.6 steals in 12.1 minutes per game for the Suns from 2021-23.