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NBA Draft 2018 review: Are Simons and Trent Jr. right for the Portland Trail Blazers?

By Shawn P. O’Connor

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 14: IMG Academy Ascenders guard Anfernee Simons (3) shoots the ball during the first half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Vermont Academy Wildcats and the IMG Academy Post Grad Ascenders on January 14, 2018, at the Blake Arena in Springfield, MA .(Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 14: IMG Academy Ascenders guard Anfernee Simons (3) shoots the ball during the first half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Vermont Academy Wildcats and the IMG Academy Post Grad Ascenders on January 14, 2018, at the Blake Arena in Springfield, MA .(Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The 2018 NBA Draft is over. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Anfernee Simons 24th overall. Later, they traded for Gary Trent Jr. Who might they have drafted instead?

The Blazers’ selection of Anfernee Simons with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft surprised just about everyone here at the Rip City Project. Few people thought Portland would select a guard. And yet Portland came away with not just one — but two!

This leaves many Blazers fans with only one thing to do: wonder what could have been.

Here are some draft selections that would have been intriguing for the Blazers.

Pick 22

Chandler Hutchison to the Chicago Bulls

A Pacific Northwest favorite, the Boise State product was the preferred pick by many Blazers faithful. The 6-foot-7 small forward averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Broncos in 2017-2018. And Hutchison was a 35.9 percent three-point shooter last season. He was gone by the time it was Portland’s turn to pick, but he sure would have been an intriguing 3-and-D prospect for the Blazers.

Pick 25

Moritz Wagner to the Los Angeles Lakers

This was my pick for Portland in this draft. Wagner, a 6-foot-10 power forward out of Michigan, could have immediately contributed to the front court rotation in Portland, especially if Jusuf Nurkic or Al-Farouq Aminu leave in free agency. Wagner is one of the best shooters in the draft, shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from deep, and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line in his college career.

Pick 28

Jacob Evans to the Golden State Warriors

Jacob Evans received some draft buzz from the Rip City Project writers. A 6-foot-6 guard/forward out of Cincinnati, Evans would have been an excellent selection for Portland, filling their need for a 3-and-D player. Evans was an excellent defensive player in college, averaging 4.7 rebounds, 1 block and 1.3 steals in his final amateur season. Evans was also a proficient shooter, hitting 42.9 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from long range, and 75.5 percent from the charity stripe in his collegiate career. Passing on Evans could prove to be a mistake.

Other Notable Picks

Mikal Bridges (pick 10, small forward) to the Philadelphia 76ers (traded to the Phoenix Suns).

Miles Bridges (pick 12, small forward) to the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Charlotte Hornets).

Michael Porter Jr. (pick 14, small forward) to the Denver Nuggets.

Troy Brown Jr. (pick 15, small forward) to the Washington Wizards.

Zhaire Smith (pick 16, small forward) to the Phoenix Suns (traded to the Philadelphia 76ers).

Omari Spellman (pick 30, power forward) to the Atlanta Hawks.

NBA Draft Day Trade

Portland selected a project guard in the first round in Anfernee Simons, while trading for a shooting guard in Gary Trent Jr., who was picked No. 37 in the second round.

Next: Blazers trade for rights to Gary Trent Jr.

As for Simons, the Blazers had the bad fortune of selecting directly after a huge run on small forwards and 3-and-D players, significantly limiting their options at the 24th spot. Portland should have considered trading up in the first round in hopes of landing one of the many 3-and-D prospects selected from the 10th to the 16th pick.

The Trail Blazers’ draft picks have been criticized — and rightfully so — based on the team’s current needs. Only time will tell if Simons and Trent Jr. will turn into the All-Stars this team needs to complement Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.