Multiple Portland Trail Blazers veterans are attracting trade interest from other NBA teams, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania:
Multiple teams have begun expressing interest in a group of Portland’s veterans — Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Robert Williams III — as the Trail Blazers make decisions on the roster, sources said.
The Blazers sit right in the middle of NBA team spending, with about $177M on the books and $89.6M committed to their three highest-cost players - Deandre Ayton ($34M), Grant ($29.7M), and Simons ($25.8M), according to Spotrac. Williams clocks in fifth at $12.4M behind Deni Avdija ($15.6M).
Grant, Simons, and Williams combine to make up about 49% of the Blazers’ total obligations.
Grant and Simons are both having worse statistical seasons than in years past, with Grant averaging 15.3 points on 38% shooting and Simons averaging 16.5 points on 40% shooting and 32% from deep. Williams is logging 9.6 points, 6 boards, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 19 minutes per game.