The Portland Trail Blazers lost 61 games this season. Injuries are partly to blame - key veterans like Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton missed a huge chunk of contests. Shaedon Sharpe got off to a hot start but missed 50 games. That led to an overreliance on young players like rookie point guard Scoot Henderson, who struggled with inconsistency and inefficiency.
Portland will head into the offseason with either the third- or fourth-best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Even with a weak class, that's a good start to improving the roster and moving the franchise rebuild forward next year. But more can always be done.
Some players on the Trail Blazers' roster aren't long for Rip City and could be traded during the summer regardless of what else happens, while others could be moved in surprise deals that would net general manager Joe Cronin and the front office even more - and even more valuable - assets.
Here's a quartet of players who could be sent packing during the offseason to accelerate Portland's rebuild.
4 Trail Blazers who shouldn't be back next season
Matisse Thybulle
Thybulle came to Portland by way of Philadelphia at the 2023 trade deadline and with more opportunities, went from a zero offensively to a three-and-D threat. He knocked down 1.5 3-pointers per game across 22 games in Rip City. That shooting breakout earned him a three-year, $33 million offer sheet from the Dallas Mavericks, which the Blazers matched.
But the 26-year-old's minutes, scoring and 3-point shooting percentage have all declined this year, as has his role. Portland is a rebuilding team that is also closing in on the luxury tax; Thybulle is still a useful player and his $11 million per year salary isn't wildly high. But the Trail Blazers could clear some cap space and minutes by dealing him to a contending team that could use his high-level perimeter defense.
Malcolm Brogdon
It made sense for Brogdon to be forwarded on to a contender when he was acquired from Boston as part of the Jrue Holiday trade (who was forwarded to a contender after being acquired from Milwaukee as part of the Damian Lillard trade). Cronin had a different plan; he wanted the 31-year-old to stick around as a veteran presence and mentor on a young team.
Brogdon was that and more. When Simons hurt his thumb in the season opener and the 19-year-old Henderson and 20-year-old Sharpe took over the backcourt, Brogdon steadied the ship. When Scoot struggled, Brogdon took over the starting point guard duties to let the rookie adjust.
He was also productive, averaging 15.7 points and 5.5 assists on 41.2 percent shooting from three.
But with a contract that expires after this season, Henderson better prepared to start on a nightly basis and a *fingers crossed* healthy Sharpe and Simons, Brogdon won't be as important to the 2024-25 Trail Blazers. He was rumored to be worth a protected first-round pick at February's trade deadline; it's time for Cronin to let his veteran safety net go and grab that future asset.
Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant was the Trail Blazers' best player at times this season. He scored 21.0 points per game and despite having one of the highest usage rates on the team, was efficient with 45/40/82 shooting splits. For the second straight season, the 29-year-old proved he's one of the most critical players on Portland's roster. He played at a borderline all-star level.
But Grant isn't an all-star and he's taking up an all-star-level chunk of cap space. Cronin re-signed him to a five-year, $160 million contract before the season, and while he's not as grossly overpaid as it might seem at first glance, the franchise's uncomfortable financial situation is largely the result of Grant's salary.
Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings could use a player like Grant - a proven NBA scorer, floor spacer and versatile defender. Trading him could net the Blazers some combination of first-round picks and young players and potentially relieve some cap pressure.
Anfernee Simons
Simons seems solidly in place as a member of Portland's young core moving forward. He's still only 24 years old and posted career highs in points, assists, free-throw attempts and free-throw percentage. He showed growth as a scorer and facilitator, the two areas in which he needed to show the most growth this season.
But he played 46 games, the least of his career with the exception of his rookie season, and it wasn't because of tanking. Multiple injuries kept Simons out of the lineup, which is doubly painful considering he needed all the minutes and experience he could get to become accustomed to being the Trail Blazers' lead scorer and playmaker with Lillard gone.
It's fair to wonder how close Ant is to his ceiling. He just completed his sixth NBA season, and at this point, it doesn't seem like he'll develop into anything more than a complimentary combo guard on a contending team, and one who's a defensive liability because of his size.
Simons would fetch the biggest return of any player on this list. He would be a perfect fit for the Orlando Magic, whose only missing piece is a backcourt scorer and shooter. The Toronto Raptors could have some interest as well.
Simons would bring back at least one valuable first-round pick - potentially an unprotected one in next year's loaded draft - and a young player with Scoot/Sharpe-type upside.
It would be a blow to lose Simons, but if Cronin wants to add some real pieces to the Trail Blazers' roster retool moving forward, trading Ant would be the best way to do it.