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Ranking the Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets going into the deadline

By Stevie Cozens

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 04: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 04, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 04: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 04, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets: #2 – 2022 second-round pick

I know second-round picks aren’t that exciting, but General Manager Neil Olshey has actually used these well in the past to get players who played roles for this team. Obviously, this is a different case as these aren’t being used at draft time when we are talking about the trade deadline. But Olshey can still use a future second to potentially bring in a difference-maker.

Though a Blazers second round-pick probably wouldn’t be a great selection at the moment, as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum age, future second-round picks begin to increase in value.

The next second-rounder the Blazers have is their 2022 selection. Recently, we have seen teams getting players for these picks though. Derrick Rose was recently traded from the Detroit Pistons to the New York Knicks for a second-rounder, albeit a stronger selection than what the Blazers would possess.

A 2022 selection won’t bring an All-Star, but it may be enough in a swap of a Blazers role-player, to get a slight upgrade.

Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets: #3 – Anfernee Simons

Young back-up guard Anfernee Simons has at last started to show signs of promise in a Blazers uniform. Drafted in the first round in 2018, the six-foot-three Simons is just 21-years-old, but in the absence of CJ McCollum, he has shown some exciting ability off the dribble, and as a catch and shoot threat.

Simons is so young that the Blazers likely won’t cut bait with him anytime soon. His minutes are slightly down last year, even though he has played more in January and February. Simons is shooting 40.2 percent from three on an excellent 4.8 attempts a night, both career highs. His value is definitely better than last year.

Because the Blazers front office doesn’t ever leak plans or potential trades, it’s hard to know if they want to make a move at the deadline and what any move would mean for Simons.

Gary Trent Jr, who was actually drafted in the same year as Simons, but in the second round, is a full-time rotation player ahead of Simons in the pecking order.

If the Blazers did make a move to get more forward help, then maybe Simons would be surplus to requirements. As an asset, he definitely has value though.