The Portland Trail Blazers already look like a different team compared to last season. Earlier in the offseason, they traded Malcolm Brogdon to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Deni Avdija. Additionally, they selected UConn big man Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft. Last year, the Trail Blazers finished with a 21-61 record, their worst since the 2005-06 season. Additionally, they have not made the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. It is clear the team is looking to continue their rebuild a year after moving on from Damian Lillard. While they have made some moves so far, it does not seem like they are done just yet. According to Trail Blazers reporter Aaron Fentress (YouTube link), Portland will likely trade forward Jerami Grant or guard Anfernee Simons by the start of training camp.
“I would be surprised if Jerami (Grant) or Anfernee Simons, that one of the two is not moved. I was told that that’s definitely the goal, that one of the two would probably be gone before training camp. Both being gone might be different. They obviously have time. They can wait until the trade deadline and see if someone else will offer more.”
Grant has spent the last two seasons with Portland. In that time, he has averaged 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Currently, Grant has four years remaining on his five-year, $160 million contract. This also includes a $36.4 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
As for Simons, he has spent his entire six-year career with the Trail Blazers up to this point. Simons has progressively improved every year and led the team in points last season, averaging 22.6 per game. The 25-year-old has two years remaining on his four-year, $100 million contract.
Portland Trail Blazers Expected to Trade Top Player
Jerami Grant Nearly Joined the Los Angeles Lakers
A few days ago, podcast host Danny Marang reported that the Blazers nearly traded Grant to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka “balked” at the last minute.
“As I understand it, Klutch was hoping to help facilitate a deal there and they got the Lakers to say, yeah they’d be willing to trade two ones for Jerami and then when it came time to do it, Pelinka balked.”
To this point of the offseason, the Lakers are the most popular suitor for Grant. However, in June, reports indicated that the Dallas Mavericks had interest in Grant. Nothing has come of the reports since, however.
Anfernee Simons Could Demand a Trade
According to Fentress, there is a possibility Simons will request a trade from Portland soon. Fentress notes that the Trail Blazers have made it “clear” they are rebuilding around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe as their “centerpieces.”
“What they’re doing right now, making it clear that Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are the centerpieces of the rebuild, means you gotta move Anfernee. Especially because you’ve committed to two guards, and Anfernee is better than both of them right now, right? You have to start Anfernee or it’s gonna look silly. If they don’t start Anfernee, he’s gonna probably demand a trade. So he’s about to go at some point soon.”
Nothing is official yet, but with training camp still a few months away, there is plenty of time for the Trail Blazers to make another big move by the end of the offseason.
