Three Portland Trail Blazers Most Likely To Be Traded Away This Offseason

If the Blazers make a trade this summer, one of these three key players will likely be involved.

The Portland Team Blazers are a team to closely monitor this offseason. Given their financial dilemma, it seems inevitable that Portland will make a trade this summer. They are in a uniquely horrible spot as a team that finished at the bottom of the Western Conference but still lacks financial flexibility. As the Blazers navigate their post-Lillard era, trading these three established players will be vital to their rebuild.

Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon is the most obvious candidate for Rip City to trade this offseason. For one, the Blazers are overcrowded at the guard position between Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe. Brogdon is by far the oldest of the group at 31; although he is content with his leadership role in Portland, he could be the odd man out due to his age not fitting the Blazers’ rebuilding timeline.

Another factor to consider is Brogdon’s contract, an expiring deal of $22.3 million. It’s going to be much easier for General Manager Joe Cronin to find a trade partner for Brogdon because it won’t be a long-term commitment, and the price tag will likely reflect the fact that Brogdon could walk at the end of the season if the Blazers don’t trade him.

Given Brogdon’s talent, it doesn’t even make financial sense for the Blazers to re-sign him if he did want to return to Portland. The substantial contract won’t make sense for a rebuilding team that is already trying to get out of the luxury tax and first apron as is.

Jerami Grant

While Jerami Grant is arguably the Blazers’ best player, his contract makes moving him more complicated. Grant is going into his second year of a five-year, $160 million deal. Because of his hefty contract, Grant’s perceived trade value around the league is a big question mark. But it will undoubtedly be less than this proposed deal with the Rockets, which would be a dream for the Blazers.

Grant has a $36.4 million player option for 2027-28 when he will be 33. Even though teams will likely consider him a negative asset towards the end of his contract, there has to be some team out there that is looking to add another piece to help them contend immediately. He’s a 6-foot-7 forward with a 7-3 wingspan that scores over 20 points a game on 40 percent shooting from three. Only a few forwards in the NBA who have Grant’s versatility are available.

Portland must move on from the 30-year-old to continue rebuilding in the right direction; this includes tanking for a better draft pick, freeing up minutes for their up-and-coming forwards, and giving themselves more financial flexibility. It’s in their best interest to trade Grant while he’s still at peak value.

Anfernee Simons

On the one hand, Anfernee Simons fits the Blazers’ rebuild, as he’s only 24 years old. He had another productive season, averaging 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. It’s difficult to trade away one of your franchise’s most promising players amid a rebuild. Especially when considering that the Blazers were bottom of the league in three-point efficiency at 34.4 percent, and Simons is a career 38.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

On the other hand, even if Portland moves Malcolm Brogdon, something else has to give with the Blazers’ log jam at the guard position. Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe can’t effectively coexist as their backcourt of the future. While all individually talented players, the trio isn’t built for the physicality of the NBA playoffs. The Blazers have a similar problem as they did with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, with their lack of size hindering their team’s defensive upside.

Simons has also said he “wants the opportunity to win” heading into year seven of his NBA career, per Sean Highkin on X. Unfortunately, Portland isn’t winning anything significant anytime soon. Moving him before his trade value drops after a formal trade request may be better for getting ahead of Simons’ potential discontent.