Saturday in the Trail Blazers win over the Rockets, Anfernee Simons made his 2020-21 regular season debut, and now Sunday, Portland has picked up his rookie scale team option.  

The Blazers have exercised the fourth-year rookie scale option for Simons and the third-year option for Nassir Little, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

NBA teams have until Monday, December 29 to make decisions on the third and fourth-year team options for all players on rookie scale contracts.

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All the young players whose options will either be exercised or declined by Monday are already under contract for the 2020-21 season, but now it’s about making a decision on the future.

Even if the young players aren’t a key piece to the rotation, rookie scale salaries are affordable enough for teams typically to pick them up.

Simons’ fourth year option is valued at $3,938,818, while Little’s third year is $2,316,240, according to Hoops Rumors.

Last season, Simons averaged 8.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

20-year-old Little has not seen game action this year as he is still out due to health and safety protocols. As a rookie last season, Little appeared in 48 games for the Blazers, averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds.