4 Stars the Blazers could trade Anfernee Simons for this summer
By Reese Kunz
If the Portland Trail Blazers are set on Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe as their future backcourt, Anfernee Simons could be the odd man out. Simons was recently named one of the top ten trade assets on the market by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley. This offseason could be the ideal time for the Blazers to trade their sharpshooter to help balance their roster.
The Blazers currently have an excess of guards and need to deal away at least one to help clear their logjam. They also have other roster holes, most notably a two-way wing. As a result, moving Simons in a package for another young star who fits their rebuilding timeline while also addressing a positional need makes sense.
1. Mikal Bridges
This season with the Brooklyn Nets, Mikal Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and one steal on 44/37/81 shooting splits. Bridges' relatively inefficient 43.6 field goal percentage was much lower than his 48 percent career average, suggesting that he's better served in a complementary star role instead of being the go-to offensive initiator like he is in Brooklyn.
Bridges would instantly be the best player on the Blazers, too. But the hope in acquiring Bridges would be that they have someone develop enough to become the Batman to Bridges' Robin, whether that's Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, or someone else entirely through the draft.
Bridges, 27, fits in well with their timeline and can be the more established veteran when these mentioned up-and-coming players are ready to contend. The Blazers also have a much more crowded backcourt than the Nets, which would help take some offensive pressure off Bridges.
While Bridges may have a high price tag, his value is justified. As one of the most coveted wings in the NBA, he can seamlessly fit into any team's starting lineup, and the Blazers are no exception. His addition would address a gap in their starting lineup, providing them with a much-needed two-way wing. Swapping Simons (and other assets) for Bridges would increase the Blazers' overall level of play and significantly improve the balance of their roster.