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The Portland Trail Blazers are garnering interest in forward Jerami Grant, guard Anfernee Simons and center Robert Williams III, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
It’s probably not a question of if the Blazers are a seller in the NBA trade market. They’re off to an 8-16 start and headed in all likelihood to a fourth straight year without playoff basketball.
Whether Portland executes a total fire sale is probably the biggest source of intrigue with multiple players on the radar of rival teams.
Grant, Simons and Williams are three of the likeliest trade candidates on the Blazers roster.
Grant simply isn’t on the same timeline as the franchise due to his age (30). It took almost no time for the entire purpose behind re-signing him on a $160 million contract to become moot after Damian Lillard requested a trade out.
Portland would presumably love to get out from under Grant’s deal, and his talents would be better utilized on a contender.
When it comes to Simons, the Trail Blazers will soon have to make a tough decision.
The 6’3″ guard is headed for free agency in 2026, and re-signing him may not be a straightforward choice. The front office has invested valuable draft capital in Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, and building the backcourt around them might be a more sensible plan than paying Simons $30 million or more—his salary maxes out at $27.7 million in 2025-26—to remain a starter or perhaps even serve as a sixth man.
Williams is another member of the free-agent class in 2026, and his persistent injury problems present an even bigger dilemma for Portland. Since arriving as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, he has made 13 total appearances for the team.
Moving the 6’9″ rim protector would help to clear the logjam the Blazers have at center with he, Deandre Ayton and 2024 lottery pick Donovan Clingan. Williams relatively modest contract probably makes him easier to move, despite the injury history, than Ayton when Ayton will collect $35.6 million next year.
As the Feb. 6 trade deadline gets closer, the Blazers might become a bigger source of speculation because they have some worthwhile assets and should be motivated to sell.
