No one on the Portland Trail Blazers roster should be untouchable with the exceptions of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Both players are 20 years old; Sharpe has 112 games of NBA experience (40 starts) while Scoot is only 62 games into his career. The duo is expected to be the backcourt of the future in Rip City and both players hold superstar potential.
But Anfernee Simons may be Portland's most valuable player, at least at the moment. He just finished his sixth NBA season, is still just 24 years old, has proven to be a legitimate scorer when healthy and improved as a playmaker. He also still has two years left on a team-friendly contract.
Those things all make him the Blazers' most valuable trade asset as well, though, and with the team unlikely to be competitive by the time he's due for another more expensive deal, Simons is expendable.
Another recent trade proposal links Ant with an Eastern Conference upstart and lands Portland a cheaper and younger point guard who's a better fit alongside Henderson and Sharpe as well as a potentially valuable first-round pick. But is it enough for a player like Simons?
Latest trade idea sends Anfernee Simons from Portland Trail Blazers to Orlando Magic
Bleacher Report published a piece detailing one trade possibility for every team eliminated from the NBA postseason. Their idea for the Blazers has Simons going to Orlando as the Magic's missing piece next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Here's the deal in its entirety:
Anfernee Simons traded to Magic for Anthony Black, 2025 first-round pick in mock deal
This is a pretty straightforward move for both sides.
Orlando's lack of offense from its backcourt has been its most significant bugaboo this season. That's shown up so far in the team's four playoff contests against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the first two games of the series, both losses, the Magic scored 83 and 86 points, respectively. Gary Harris started alongside Jalen Suggs in Game 1 and scored zero points on 0-of-6 shooting. Markelle Fultz played 13 minutes off the bench and also put up a goose egg.
It was Cole Anthony's turn to score zero points in Game 2. Jalen Suggs and Fultz combined for 10 points.
Games 3 and 4 flipped the script. Suggs had 24 points in a dominant Game 3 win while Fultz scored 11 points and Anthony 10. In another blowout victory in Game 4, Suggs and Fultz each finished with 12 points.
When the Magic's guards give Banchero and Wagner some offensive support, Orlando is more likely to win games. Hence the attractiveness of Simons, a proven NBA scorer and improving playmaker. He's the ideal tonic to what ails this Orlando team.
But is the return enough to make it worth the Blazers' time?
Grading the trade for the Trail Blazers
Despite being another guard, Black is a much better fit with Scoot and Sharpe. He's 6-foot-7 and more of a playmaker and connector than a scorer. He's not going to take away shots from Portland's other two guards; he would get them better ones.
His size and length are a major upgrade over Simons on the defensive end. One of Black's strengths as a prospect entering last summer's draft was his defensive activity, IQ and versatility. He's capable of guarding three positions and would allow head coach Chauncey Billups to deploy three-guard lineups that can mesh offensively without the drawback of being small like they are now with Simons.
The 2025 first-round pick has its pros and cons. Next year's draft class is loaded with potential stars, but a selection coming via Denver will likely land near the end of the first round.
This isn't the worst trade Portland can make, but if it's going to give up a player as valuable as Simons, a bigger return would be nice. Black and the 2025 first is a good start, but haggling to potentially get Orlando's pick instead of Denver's and adding another future first to the deal would make it much more worth the Blazers' while.
Trail Blazers trade grade: C