The Portland Trail Blazers are trying their hardest to execute a rebuild and return to contention after a rough end to their time with franchise icon Damian Lillard. The Blazers have holdovers from Lillard’s time with the team in Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, who are both expected to be traded before next season by Oregonian writer Aaron Fentress.
“He (Grant) doesn’t have to move this offseason. I would be surprised if Jerami or Anfernee Simons if one of the two is not moved. I was told that one of the two would probably be gone before training camp… They have time till the trade deadline to see if someone’s going to offer more… I predict both will be gone by next summer”
Fentress made it clear that the Blazers don’t have a future for Simons in their guard lineup as they prioritize building up the backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
“They’ve made it clear that Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are the centerpieces of the rebuild. That means you’ve got to move Anfernee because you’ve committed to two guards, and Anfernee is better than both right now. If they don’t start Anfernee, he’s probably going to demand a trade. He’s bound to go at sometime soon.”
The reporter also said that Grant might become dissatisfied spending his 30s on a tanking team.
“As cool of a guy Grant is, he doesn’t want to waste his 30s and what years he has left on a team that’s actively tanking again, and might even tank again next year. He wants to go somewhere he can win.”
Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season while Simons put up 22.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.
They’re arguably the two best players on the Blazers right now, but the rebuilding franchise might need to cash in on them for more future assets to ensure the team can give Scoot and Sharpe the room they need to blossom.
A team that wants to contend will likely be willing to part with solid assets for Grant or Simons, with a move for either player being an obvious target for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers Are Eyeing The Blazers’ Duo
The Los Angeles Lakers are still yet to make a single addition to their roster this offseason outside the two rookies they drafted in June. They completely blanked in free agency, watching rivals sign their targets like Klay Thompson, Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr., and more.
A major trade is the only way the Lakers can add firepower to their roster for contention next season. They’ve been linked with Grant for months but have been unwilling to match the two first-round picks the Blazers want. Two FRPs for Grant is a tall ask given he signed a five-year, $160 million contract last season.
Anfernee Simons might be a better candidate for a big trade offer, with the guard still just 25 years old. He found a way to thrive behind Lillard and C.J. McCollum, with his production holding steady when he was starting alongside Lillard as well. He’s a proven NBA-level point guard, something the Lakers desperately need if they want an upgrade from D’Angelo Russell.
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