Report: Blazers motivated to move at least one of Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons by training camp

Report: Blazers motivated to move at least one of Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons by training camp

We are at a dead point in the NBA offseason. Most of the player movement has already occurred, and there aren’t any big shoes currently on the precipice of dropping.

Some noise has percolated in the northwest over the last several days, specifically regarding Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant and guard Anfernee Simons. According to beat writer Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian, general manager Joe Cronin is motivated to move at least one of the two players heading into the new season.

“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,” Fentress said recently on an appearance with Sactown Sports 1140. “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.”

It would not be the first time that the Blazers executed a big trade right before the start of training camp. As we all can remember, the Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in late September 2023 and, just a few days later, flipped Jrue Holiday–acquired in the Lillard deal–to the Boston Celtics right before the start of training camp.

I wouldn’t expect the market for both Grant and Simons to be the same, however. Grant is entering the second year of a five-year, $160 million deal. He’s entering his age-30 season with a $29.8 million cap hit; that’s not detrimental, per se, but it may not entice many organizations in today’s apron economy.

Jrue Holiday Belongs In The Hall Of Fame

Simons is the more attractive asset–given the Blazers are loaded at guard with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe already present. He has one more year left on his four-year, $100 million deal beyond 2024-25.

Portland should look to prioritize without both players, frankly. Neither appears a clean fit to their new core with Henderson, Sharpe and newly-drafted center Donovan Clingan. Though there are obstacles to getting rid of both. Things in the NBA can change in an instant, so it’s not impossible that at least one gets moved for assets.

***

Click Here for more NBA Content

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out the Vendetta Shop