Grade the Trade: Anfernee Simons trade idea would be massive mistake for Blazers

Grading the Trail Blazers’ mock trade

The Blazers would be foolish to accept this mock deal, and the primary reason why is the lack of draft capital they are getting back. It's also an excellent example of why Portland needs to hold onto Williams until the trade deadline to increase his trade value. If RW3 can prove he's recovered from injury and consistently stays on the court in the 2024-25 season, he could possibly net a first-round pick by himself.

Simons also has arguably the highest trade value on the entire Blazers roster due to his age, contract, and the fact that he's coming off a career-best season on a per-game basis. Why would the rebuilding Blazers accept this deal if they don't get a single first-round pick attached for two valuable assets?

Rui Hachimura is a borderline starter, but his upside is limited. The Blazers don't need to add more players with Rui's ceiling and remain in mediocrity; they need to add a star through the draft. While that's never a guarantee, they can maximize their chances of a prospect turning into a star at the next level by acquiring as much draft capital as possible.

They could also flip D'Angelo Russell, who's on an expiring deal, for draft capital. However, they are reportedly not interested in receiving D-Lo in any potential deal with the Lakers.

Jordan Hawkins could be a valuable role player, giving the Blazers much-needed shooting off the bench and fitting into their rebuilding timeline. He's someone that Portland should pursue in a trade, but not at the expense of including Simons in the deal, especially since Hawkins isn't coming off a great season.

If anything, this seems more like a pipedream pitch to get Ingram back on the Lakers. The Blazers should stay far away.

Grade: F