Grade the Trade: Anfernee Simons goes East, Blazers continue rebuilding

Assessing the Trail Blazers’ mock trade

From the Blazers' perspective, the picks aren't too enticing. Given the weak draft class, the No. 18 overall pick in this year's draft is less valuable than typical seasons. Portland also already has two lottery picks, which could reduce their desire for another to a certain extent. Despite their relatively disappointing playoffs, the Nuggets are still one of the best teams in the league. Their 2025 pick should not be worth much, considering it will likely be toward the end of the first round. While two first-round picks are excellent on the surface, these two specific ones don't hold as much weight.

Cole Anthony, 24, fits with the Blazers' timeline. However, Anthony's strengths and weaknesses are similar to those of Simons'. Anthony is another undersized guard at 6-foot-2, making him a defensive liability. He's also a worse shooter than most would expect, connecting on only 33.8 percent of his threes this season.

If the Blazers move Simons, they don't need to acquire a worse version of him in return. Simons is an ideal landing spot for the Magic, but it's uncertain who the Blazers could ask for that would be a good fit in return. Regarding Orlando's guards, Markelle Fultz and Anthony Black are poor shooters, and Anthony's skill set is too redundant to Simons'.

The purpose of making a trade is to revamp a roster and address weaknesses. Swapping Simons for Anthony and two weak first-round picks wouldn't solve their roster needs; the Blazers should reject this mock proposal.

Trail Blazers trade grade: C+