Rip City Project
Fansided

How have the Trail Blazers young players performed this season?

By Stevie Cozens

PORTLAND, OR - September 30: Anfernee Simons #24 and Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers entertain the fans during the team's annual Fan Fest open scrimmage September 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - September 30: Anfernee Simons #24 and Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers entertain the fans during the team's annual Fan Fest open scrimmage September 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 2
Next
Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Trail Blazers have some exciting young players that have featured in varying roles this year. How have they performed so far this season?

The last three seasons the Trail Blazers have done a great job of identifying talent through the draft. Now boasting a strong young core that will carry the Blazers for the better part of the next ten years, where are each of these players in their development and how have they performed so far this year?

Zach Collins – drafted 2017, age 22

Zach Collins is the daddy of the young core, drafted in 2017. Collins may have the highest ceiling of the young players on this team with his legitimate two-way potential. He is a seven-foot beast who can shoot the three and then bother some of the leagues best big men on the other end.

Unfortunately Collins’ shoulder injury has robbed him of all but three games this season, and he may not return this year. This doesn’t take away from the growth we’ve seen in his two and a bit years in Rip City. Collins has improved his at rim finishing and his shooting while his defense is aggressive and improving in terms of rim protection and sliding his feet.

Collins only played three games this season so we can’t give him a grade for this year, but his performances in last year playoffs combined with his physical growth bode well for the future. Collins has stated he wants to return this year, this will give Blazer fans the chance to see how far he has come. His main work-on’s should be fouling less and looking to play make out of the post when he has the opportunity.

Collins has a massive future in the NBA.

Anfernee Simons – drafted 2018, age 20

Anfernee Simons has been a mixed bag this year, but there have been more good than bad moments from the exciting combo guard. The constant injuries have meant this isn’t a stable environment for young players, but Simons has had more opportunities than expected which have been good for his growth none the less.

Simons shot has looked good from all spots on the floor this year. He is hitting 40 percent from the mid range and though his 33 percent from three isn’t worth writing home about, we are confident he is a better three-point shooter than this. As a combo guard it would be nice to see him initiating more offense, but the way the second unit has been chopped and changed he hasn’t always had the continuity to develop a connection with his teammates.

After only playing 20 games last season, Simons has graduated into a regular rotation member this season. At around 21 minutes a game he has even shown some flashes on defense that may mean he can be competent on that end. He has closed out well on the perimeter to shooters and can move his feet when engaged. He will need to rebound his position better if he is to play the two guard full-tie, but adding to his frame over the next two seasons will help with this.

Simons has taken a massive step forward from last year, and can be pleased personally with his offensive growth especially.