Trail Blazers Free Agency Day 1: Anfernee Simons gets paid, Jusuf Nurkic left waiting

The Trail Blazers opened the first day of free agency with a couple mild surprises. Anfernee Simons got a four-year $100 million contract and Jusuf Nurkic got nothing, left waiting for a contract agreement after the first official day of negotiations. What doe Simons' big day mean? How did it swell to $100 million and how do we judge Simons now that's he's graduated from alluring star of the future to well compensated cornerstone? On the Nurkic front, what's the deal? Or rather where's the deal? Why haven't the two sides agreed on a contract that seemed to be a forgone conclusion for months and what are the other options for both Nurkic and the Blazers if they can't agree on a new contract. Plus, is there a Kevin Durant trade demand angle to all of this that could be holding up some decision making from the Blazers and Nurkic. Finally, the Blazers are reportedly targeting Gary Payton II and Bruce Brown. What does that type of free agent target tell us about how Portland wants to play and what the front office values in a player this offseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices