Portland Trail Blazers: Three trades to move up in the 2020 NBA Draft

Portland Trail Blazers trade Anfernee Simons to move up to the tenth pick in NBA draft

If the Blazers want a defender with great size who can shoot the three-ball, they need to look no further than Devin Vassell.

Vassell is a six-foot-seven small forward with a six-foot-ten wingspan. He is already an elite defender and would impact the Blazers from day one. He shot the three at 41 percent this year and has a developing pull-up plus versatility on his threes.

Vassell is the best defender in the 2020 class and plays tough on both ends of the ball.

This trade would mean that Anfernee Simons is surplus to requirements. With the development of Gary Trent Jr. and Simons lack of shot creation for others, the Blazers could move him to a team whose development timeline lines up better with his.

Simons is actually the same age as Vassell, but Vassell can contribute right away. Simons struggled to assume the backup point guard role, and now the Blazers are on the clock. Bringing in a wing that can contribute right away on both ends is more important than waiting for Simons to develop.

I think Ant can still be a contributor on an NBA team, but he needs time to grow into the league.

By also giving up a second-round pick, the Hawks could select another player in the second round and use the Blazers 16th pick. At this point, the Hawks need to take as many shots as they can at getting a second piece next to Trae Young.

At the moment, they lack shot creation behind him; Anfernee Simons and two other draft picks could change this.