Anfernee Simons is just entering his prime at 26 years old. He still fit the Portland Trail Blazers rebuilding timeline if they wanted to keep him. Ultimately, they decided to move on from their longest-tenured player at the time, trading Simons to the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday. That decision is proving to be ideal timing for the Blazers.
It really has nothing to do with Simons' play either, as the combo guard is finally finding his rhythm in his new home. It has more to do with the direction the league is trending, as the market for these undersized, offensive-minded guards isn't what it once was. Just look at the recent Trae Young trade, where the Atlanta Hawks weren't able to get any draft capital from the Washington Wizards for sending over a four-time All-Star.
Sam Amick and The Athletic NBA Staff recently published a piece noting the diminishing value of these offensive stars as the league looks to prioritize those who can make a greater two-way impact. And according to a scout, Young isn't the only one whose market has taken a hit this trade season. Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball were the two other names that got brought up as star guards who have lost value "because the game has changed around them."
"He's not alone, though. As one scout told me recently, that's a quiet subplot to this trade deadline season when it comes to some of the high-profile stars who might be available. If you don't guard, then trading you might be hard."
Blazers were ahead of the curve with Anfernee Simons trade
Simons isn't in the same tier of star, but you could easily put him in the same category as someone whose stats don't necessarily reflect his market value. He's worth more to the casual NBA fan than he is to front offices around the league.
With Simons on an expiring $27.7 million contract, the Celtics will be put in a difficult spot leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Simons has had a relatively underwhelming season overall, averaging 13.6 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds on 44/40/88 shooting splits. Still, there are signs that he's trending upward as head coach Joe Mazzulla figures out how best to use his offensive skill set, which oftentimes requires him to get into a rhythm.
With the Celtics suddenly 3rd in the Eastern Conference and Jayson Tatum potentially set to return by the end of the season, it could make sense for them to keep Simons as a piece to help them make a deep playoff run. If this recent Young trade and other rumors are any indication, that's going to be more valuable than anything Simons is worth on the market.
Fortunately, that's no longer Portland's dilemma. Holiday is no longer the elite defender he once was due to his declining athleticism at age 35, but he's still a much better fit for the direction the league is headed in. That alone should make the Blazers feel vindicated about their decision to trade Simons this past summer.