Although the Portland Trail Blazers only used one of their four picks, they should still be considered one of the winners of the 2024 NBA Draft. By selecting Donovan Clingan, who fell to No. 7 overall, they have added another pivotal piece to their rebuilding core. Even better, they didn't have to sacrifice assets to move up and grab the UConn center.
Between the additions of Clingan and Deni Avdija, the Blazers' future has already gotten more promising this offseason. However, uncertainties remain surrounding their roster and who will be considered part of their long-term core.
Joe Cronin makes notable omission when discussing Blazers' future
In the Blazers' press conference, Cronin was asked what is next following the Clingan and Advija acquisitions, responding:
"We’ve got to continue to build this talent base. We’re committed to Scoot [Henderson] and Shaedon [Sharpe] being a massive part of what we’re doing. How do we find ways to give them the support they need and make them better and maximize their development? Continually seeking players to add to this roster that we can grow with and build with."Joe Cronin
Cronin could have mentioned Henderson (20) and Sharpe (22) because they are the guards with the most untapped potential and are trying to maximize their upside. Anfernee Simons is more developed at age 25, averaging 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game in his sixth season. However, it's undoubtedly an interesting omission from Cronin and could potentially signify them moving on from Simons in the future.
Will Blazers move Anfernee Simons soon?
It seems unlikely Simons will be on the move anytime soon for a few reasons. For one, it's not as pressing that the Blazers make another trade now that they moved Malcolm Brogdon, which allowed them to clear their backcourt logjam and get them under the luxury tax.
Another notable factor is that one of Simons' most popular landing spots was the Orlando Magic. They have solidified their starting backcourt with the signing of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, which means adding someone like Simons may be less of a priority now.
Lastly, Cronin mentions that because the Blazers aren't yet ready to contend, stockpiling assets and acquiring as much talent as possible is more important than positional fit at this point in their rebuild.
A Simons move doesn't appear likely anytime soon. However, it shouldn't be completely ruled out. Cronin mentions he will continue navigating this offseason with the intention of "working the phones and being open-minded and opportunistic about finding players that can help us, not just in the short term but in the long term."
Barring a no-brainer trade, they should enter the 2024-25 NBA season with the backcourt trio of Henderson, Sharpe, and Simons. However, whether all three will start following the Deni Avdija acquisition is unclear - it could ultimately depend on whether or not they move Jerami Grant this summer.