As the Portland Trail Blazers' longest-tenured player, Anfernee Simons has been through many ups and downs with the franchise. Now entering his eighth season with a contract set to expire, Simons and the Blazers are at a crossroads.
Do they decide to trade their prolific guard to pave the way for former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson? Or do they keep him around, considering he fits their rebuilding timeline at 26 years old and provides shooting and playmaking for a roster in need of both?
Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report's latest intel suggests it may be the latter.
"Simons would have some value on the trade market if they decided to move him, but I don't think they're actively shopping him. There's a path for him to still have a role in Portland, even if the long-term plan is based on the last few lottery picks. It's just a matter of both sides agreeing on what that role is and what the salary is," wrote Highkin.
The 2025 NBA Draft will reveal Blazers' true intentions with Simons
It's not guaranteed that this means Simons will be on the Blazers roster to start the 2025-26 season. Just because they aren't "actively shopping" doesn't mean they won't receive an offer that's too good to refuse.
But it is surprising, nonetheless, that the Blazers aren't at least trying to actively explore options for what is their best trade chip as far as trade candidates go -- especially for a team with ambitious playoff aspirations next season that needs more star power to make that a reality.
The upcoming 2025 NBA Draft will tell us a lot about the Blazers' direction and whether they view Simons as part of their long-term plans.
Taking a combo guard like Kasparas Jakučionis or Egor Demin makes a lot more sense if the plan is for them to replace Simons. Otherwise, it will create too much of a backcourt logjam. If the plan is to build around a backcourt trio of Simons, Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe, selecting someone like Noa Essengue, Carter Bryant, or Derik Queen makes more sense.
Simons' role problem creates a dilemma for Portland
It's a tricky situation for general manager Joe Cronin to navigate. Portland's backcourt suddenly has many more question marks than its frontcourt. From that standpoint, keeping Simons around makes sense as they continue to figure out what they have in Henderson and Sharpe. But this past season proved that Simons' current role is also part of the problem.
The Blazers' path to becoming contenders lies in the ceilings of Henderson and Sharpe, and Portland must make them both more of a priority to get there. Highkin mentions the importance of Portland figuring out the best backcourt roles for everyone. And although Simons is one of the Blazers' best players, it's clear his role on a contender would look vastly different.
If the Blazers can keep him around the $27 million range he's currently making in a sixth-man capacity, keeping Simons around becomes more intriguing. But even then, they must ask themselves: If that is the long-term role we view for Simons, is the price tag worth keeping him around under the new CBA?
Meanwhile, Simons has gone on record as saying he wants to play for a contender. Would he even want to buy into that role, considering he's just entering his prime, and Portland is still years away from contending?
The Blazers' backcourt situation has more questions than answers, making it surprising that they aren't actively trying to find external solutions by shopping Simons.