The Portland Trail Blazers had interest in trading for Dillon Brooks before acquiring Larry Nance Jr. last week.

The Blazers sent out Derrick Jones Jr. and a protected first round pick for Nance.

It us unknown what the Memphis Grizzlies could have sought in return for Brooks. Brooks signed a three-year, $35 million extension with the Grizzlies in 2020.

A trade of Ben Simmons by the Philadelphia 76ers remains an apparent inevitability, but no deal is imminent.

The 76ers conducted expansive discussions with several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors, but neither package was found appealing enough for an agreement to be reached.

The 76ers have told teams they are comfortable bringing back Simmons for the 21-22 season, but rival executives believe it is a matter of when and not if he is traded.

The Timberwolves have been motivated to find a deal for Simmons but would likely require a third team given their asset pool of Malik Beasley, Jaden McDaniels and D’Angelo Russell might not entice the 76ers.

The 76ers continue to seek Damian Lillard, but the Portland Trail Blazers want to build around him. The 76ers may be stuck between waiting out Lillard or trading Simmons now.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers have agreed on a deal involving a sign-and-trade involving Lauri Markkanen. 

The Cavaliers will acquire Markkanen, while the Bulls will receive Derrick Jones Jr. and a lottery protected future first rounder from the Blazers, while Portland receives Larry Nace Jr. The Cavaliers will also second a 2023 second round pick via the Denver Nuggets to the Bulls.

The pick from the Blazers is lottery protected through 2028 and then converts to a 2028 second rounder if not conveyed by then.

Markkanen is a restricted free agent this offseason and will sign a four-year, $67 million deal with the Cavaliers, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are widely expected to keep Ben Simmons when training camp opens on September 28th unless the Portland Trail Blazers make Damian Lillard available in a trade package.

The 76ers have sought a "James Harden-like" package for Simmons so far in trade talks with other teams. Philadelphia would theoretically like to flip that package to the Blazers for Lillard should a trade materialize that meets those standards. 

The 76ers signed Joel Embiid to a four-year, $196 million extension on Tuesday and are clearly trying to maximize his title window.

A trade of Simmons is widely considered an inevitability but the 76ers are not prepared to rush a deal. Simmons expects to be traded and has not personally been in close contact with Daryl Morey, Embiid or Doc Rivers this offseason. 

Simmons' camp has canvassed the league gauging their interest in creating a new home for him.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs have been the teams most consistently linked with Simmons. 

The Portland Trail Blazers signed Greg Brown III to a three-year, $4.3 million deal.

Brown was the 43rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

The first two seasons of Brown's deal are guaranteed while the third season is non-guaranteed. 

Zach Collins agreed to a three-year, $22 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs when free agency opened, but less than half of the contract is guaranteed.

Collins will receive a full guarantee of $7 million in Year 1 with the contract increasing to $7.35 million in Year 2 with a 50 percent guarantee.

Collins has no money guaranteed for Year 3 in 23-24 when he's scheduled to earn $7.7 million.

In total, Collins will have $10.675 million guaranteed by San Antonio. 

Collins underwent a second ankle surgery in June after missing most of the 19-20 season with a shoulder injury.

Damian Lillard is not currently available for a trade and he has also not requested one from the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

A trade of Lillard, if it does happen during the 21-22 season, is widely expected to come down to the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks.

The Knicks are almost entirely out of a two-team trade scenario for Lillard until Dec. 15 when players signed during the offseason can be traded. The 76ers, meanwhile, can match salary and have a proven All-Star available in Ben Simmons. But the 76ers are on the clock for trading Simmons, who they have signaled they intend to trade.

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) voted Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum as their next President. McCollum replaces Chris Paul, who spent the last eight years as NBPA President.

Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams was voted in as Vice President of the NBPA. Other members of the NBPA Executive Committee include Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes, Bismack Biyombo, Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving and Garrett Temple.

McCollum's and Williams' leadership comes at a key time for the NBPA. The union and the NBA each have the power to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement in 2022-23, or before the 2023-24 season.

Damian Lillard played through an abdomen injury during the United States' gold medal run that will require further testing since he returns home.

Lillard wanted to continue playing to help the United States, but he struggled at times and shot just 38.3 percent from the field and 34.8 percent on three-pointers.

Lillard has also been the subject of trade rumors this offseason as he's cast doubt on his future with the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in his career.

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Trendon Watford to a Two-Way contract.

Watford, 20, averaged 16.3 points (48.0% FG, 31.6% 3-PT, 65.1% FT), 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.11 steals in 28 games (all starts) as a sophomore at LSU during 2020-21 season. He ranked sixth in the SEC in scoring and fifth in rebounding while earning All-SEC First Team honors from the Associated Press. In the postseason, Watford scored a career-high 30 points against Alabama in the SEC Tournament Championship Game and averaged 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games.