Portland gives up a promising young star for a dependable value
Anfernee Simons has been one of the brightest spots in an otherwise puzzling and disappointing season for Portland fans. He is only one of three Blazers with a positive plus/minus rating — Lillard and Larry Nance Jr. are the others — and is posting career-highs in every major statistical category.
But that excellence has put him on the block, much like it did Gary Trent Jr. last year. He’ll be a restricted free agent in July and will definitely command a host of offers far higher than his $5.75 million qualifying offer.
In this deal, the Blazers flip him for Obi Toppin, who boasts eye-popping athleticism and lock-down defensive skills. At 6’9″ and 220-lbs, he can guard three positions better than anyone on the Blazers’ current roster.
He’d be a welcome addition and a statistical boon to a Portland squad with a team defensive rating almost 12 points worse than his 100.8 individual mark. The inclusion of Elleby and the swap of University of Texas rookie second-rounders are for salary considerations and the pick evens out the marginal talent disparity.
This deal would likely be supplemented by one that sheds Nurkic and/or Covington for more frontcourt defensive help, or potentially a McCollum/Ben Simmons swap.
But it’s a good start towards shoring up one of the league’s worst defenses and getting some value for players that probably won’t be on next year’s roster anyway.