NBA Rumors: Anfernee Simons 'appears open to a move' from Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers don't necessarily need to trade Anfernee Simons, especially after moving off of Malcolm Brogdon and clearing their guard logjam in the process. However, if the price is right for general manager Joe Cronin to make a deal, Simons could be another Blazers guard on the move this summer. Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report recently said, "Anfernee Simons' status is worth keeping an eye on," for a few reasons.

Blazers' Anfernee Simons may be on the move

For one, Highkin mentions how Cronin omitted Simons in a recent press conference, instead talking about how the Blazers are committed to building around their backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.

Simons has been a popular trade candidate since this offseason, with Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley listing him as a top-ten trade asset this summer. If Cronin can indeed get a return that reflects that kind of trade value for Simons, then it's safe to assume he will be open to moving the 25-year-old guard.

Contributing factors to potential Simons trade

Highkin also says that Simons "appears open to a move," referencing the fact that he has gone on record saying that he wants "the opportunity to win" heading into his seventh NBA season. The Blazers should be improved this upcoming 2024-25 season with a healthier roster, internal improvements from up-and-coming players, and the additions of Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija.

However, the reality is that they are still a bottom team in the Western Conference and likely will be for at least a few more seasons as they continue to build upon what is now the early stages of their post-Lillard rebuild. Simons is a great offensive player coming off the best season of his career, averaging 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game on 43/39/92 shooting splits.

Why Simons trade talks might drag on

There are multiple reasons why a team would be interested in Simons. He's an elite shooter just entering his prime at 25 and is on a reasonable contract with an annual salary of $25 million. But Highkin suggests it's challenging to gauge Simons' trade value, which makes sense. He's tremendous offensively but is also a combo guard with a reputation around the league as a defensive liability.

Meanwhile, Cronin is a firm trade negotiator, and there is no reason to rush trading away other players after the Brogdon deal got them under the luxury tax. Because it's difficult to see how closely teams value Simons compared to what Cronin is willing to accept, this scenario could play out in various ways.

If teams don't view Simons as the top ten trade asset value some have expected, then it's easy to see a path where Simons is still in the Blazers' starting lineup at the beginning of the next season. If that's the case, Sharpe could come off the bench in a sixth-man role, and Simons could slide to the point guard spot when Sharpe spells Henderson.

Blazers fans will continue to monitor trade talks involving Simons this offseason. Still, as Highkin mentions, it could be a drawn-out process given the Blazers' current roster and Cronin's tendency to hold firm in attempts to maximize trade value.