Blazers Expected To Trade Jerami Grant Or Anfernee Simons Before Season

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has had his name tossed about in trade rumors all summer, and more recently, so has guard Anfernee Simons.

So don’t be surprised if the Blazers actually move one of them here soon.

Per Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian, the Blazers are likely to trade one of them before training camp.

“I would be surprised if Jerami or Anfernee Simons, that one of the two is not moved,” Fentress said on Sactown Sports 1140, via RealGM. “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 repeatedly has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, but that actually doesn’t mean a whole lot. The Lakers are linked to everybody. Truth is, they don’t have much to offer and despite all the constant chatter, all they’ve done this summer is add a couple of draft picks and get another year older.

That said, Grant is represented by agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who also represents Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. So whenever one of his clients becomes available, they are suddenly not-so-mysteriously linked to LA.

Anyway, Grant is due $29.8 million next season after signing a five-year, $160 million contract with the Blazers last July.

He appeared in 54 games for the Blazers last season, averaging 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 45.1% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line.

“They’re stubborn,” an NBA exec told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports about the Blazers. “Part of the job is to be stubborn, though. But part of the job is also seeing your mistakes and getting out of them. Grant was a mistake. Trading him now just to get out of that salary is the right thing to do, take whatever picks or young guys you can get.”