Rookie of the Year: Anfernee Simons
This is, admittedly, a silly award to give to either Trail Blazer rookie. Neither has seen that much time.
Still, Anfernee Simons stands out mostly for his 13 productive minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves in November. He finished with seven points, an assist, and three rebounds. Like he has in NBA Summer League and preseason, he demonstrated confidence and an ability to get to his spots on the floor.
With more experience and a less Trae Young-ish body, he could factor into the Blazers rotation down the line.
Runner-up: Gary Trent, Jr.
Gary Trent, Jr. has received even less time than Simons, so there is just as much mystery over how truly productive he can be at the NBA level.
He also shined, albeit for only six minutes at a less important juncture, in that same Timberwolves game. He finished with eight points on 3-for-5 shooting. From what I’ve seen, Trent looks like he could become a quality shooter and solid defender, a la Wes Matthews.
And with that, the Trail Blazers midseason awards are over! Check back at the end of the year to see who continued with their trajectory, who pushed for a promotion from runner-up to winner, and who fell from grace.