The Portland Trail Blazers are an under-the-radar team to watch this offseason. Portland could make significant changes this summer for financial, timeline, and roster fit reasons. Anfernee Simons, despite being 25 and one of their most prolific scorers, could make sense as an asset for the Blazers to move. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe appear to be Portland’s backcourt of the future, leaving Simons’ role with the Blazers in question.
Blazers send Anfernee Simons to Magic in mock proposal
In a recent Bleacher Report article, Dan Favale and Grant Hughes suggest one trade for every team not in the 2024 NBA Finals. Because Portland could be active this offseason in terms of potential trades, the Blazers are involved in three deals. This particular deal involves the Blazers sending Simons to the Orlando Magic in exchange for young assets that fit Portland’s rebuilding timeline.
Orlando is an extremely popular landing spot for Anfernee Simons in mock trade proposals. The fit makes perfect sense for the Magic. However, Simons has high trade value around the NBA, as the league places a premium on shooting. Is this deal enough for Joe Cronin and the Blazers to be willing to move their promising young guard?
Here is what the mock trade entails:
Portland acquires Cole Anthony and draft capital from Orlando
Note: It will not likely matter, but Denver’s 2025 first-round pick in this proposal is top-five protected through 2027.
This season, Simons averaged a career-high in points (22.6 per game), assists (5.5), and rebounds (3.6). His offensive-minded skillset makes him an ideal fit alongside the Magic's rising stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. As a guard, Simons brings elite shooting and the ability to initiate the offense when needed, potentially adding a new dimension to Orlando.
"Half-court shot-making and facilitation top the Magic's offseason wish list, and they have the assets to address both. Going after Simons comes close to doing so in one player. He isn't a bold-text game manager, but he has improved his live-dribble reads over the past few years. Secondary orchestration also goes a long way when Paolo Banchero is already in place."Dan Favale
Simons, 25, is a perfect fit for the Magic's young core. The team already has a solid lineup of guards, including Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Markelle Fultz. While all three have shown promise, Simons stands out with his consistent shooting and ability to stretch the floor. This is a valuable asset for the team, especially considering that the best out of the group, Suggs and Fultz, aren't consistent shooters at this point in their careers.
The Magic have built their team identity around their length and versatility. Players like Jonathan Issac, Franz Wagner, and Paolo Banchero, all 6-foot-10, contribute to this strategy. Simons is an undersized guard at 6-foot-3 and is a defensive liability. However, the Magic's roster construction would help compensate for his weaknesses.
Given his age, playmaking, and shooting ability, it makes sense for the Magic to acquire Simons. But do they give the Blazers enough in return to make the deal worthwhile?
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+