Anfernee Simons was once seen as a top-ten trade asset this past summer. Simons expressed that he wants the opportunity to win heading into his seventh season on a rebuilding Blazers team with no playoff aspirations. However, much has changed in the fast-moving landscape of the NBA.
Simons recently stated he won't request a trade out of Portland. He's also having a down year by his standards, averaging 18.9 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds on 43/37/91 shooting splits. But his play has improved significantly entering 2025.
With the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaching, GM Joe Cronin faces a challenging decision about whether to move Simons. As with any trade, it will ultimately depend on what the Blazers can get in return. However, other key factors, such as Simons' contract situation and the development of Scoot Henderson, will also play a role in Portland's decision.
The case for trading Anfernee Simons
Moving Simons would help Scoot Henderson's development, which should be a priority given they recently invested a top-three pick into their young guard. It would clear a starting spot for Henderson, opening up 32 minutes and 19 shot attempts a game for Henderson and the rest of Portland's young core.
It would also allow Scoot to be more of the focal point of Portland's offense. He thrives with the ball in his hands, particularly in pick-and-roll situations, but he often has to take a back seat to Simons in the offensive hierarchy, even forcing him into a spot-up shooting role, which plays to his weakness.
Simons' stellar play as of late could be a pro or con for a reason to trade him. The case for trading him, despite his newfound consistent play, is that his value is higher now, and the Blazers will be able to receive more in return.
As good as Simons has been, his contract expires at the end of next season, and there are questions surrounding whether his impact on winning will justify the increased contract, as he is an undersized guard who is a high-volume scorer. The new CBA also significantly limits teams' financial flexibility, which is another factor to consider.
The case against trading Anfernee Simons
Henderson hasn't shown significant signs of progress in his second season, and it remains to be seen whether he will develop into being Portland's long-term answer at point guard. Keeping Simons around provides an insurance policy for the Blazers in case the Henderson experiment never pans out. At 25 years old, Simons still fits into their rebuilding timeline, too.
Two of the Blazers' most glaring weaknesses on offense are playmaking and shooting, and they would be much worse off in those two key areas without Simons around. He's a career 38.4 percent three-point shooter and a flamethrower who can single-handedly win a game when he gets hot. Simons' most recent ten-game stretch, where he's averaged 21.9 points on 44.1 percent from beyond the arc, is a prime example of the type of player Simons is when he's at his best.
HoopsHype's global player ratings suggest that Simons, ranked 78th in the league, is the second-best player on the Blazers, just behind Deni Avdija at 73. Do the Blazers really want to part ways with one of their best players who still fits in their timeline, helps address offensive weaknesses, and plays a position that still doesn't have a definitive long-term solution?
There are players that Portland should clearly trade, like Jerami Grant. Then, there are players that should be considered untouchable, including Shaedon Sharpe. Simons lies somewhere toward the middle of the spectrum -- a player the Blazers don't have to move but are open to trading if the right deal comes along.
The fact that he's due for a more substantial contract at the end of next season puts him closer to the Grant side of the spectrum. But again, it all depends on how coveted Simons is around the league.