3. Spurs take a swing on Simons
San Antonio entered the offseason in desperate need of a point guard and filled that hole by signing Chris Paul to a one-year contract. The Spurs drafted Stephon Castle to be their future, but they would not be the first team with multiple ball-handlers. Castle was a perimeter stopper in the NCAA and could be the perfect backcourt partner for Anfernee Simons.
The Spurs can make any move. They have a mountain of draft capital and several young talents to use if the right move comes along. San Antonio may be able to buy low on Simons at just the cost of a young wing and a first-round draft pick.
There will be plenty of debate about which first-rounder the Blazers receive. They would love a selection from the Hawks or Bulls, but the Spurs likely limit it to their selections. San Antonio will want to wait a few years, which makes their 2028 first-rounder with a top ten protection seem the most likely.
Johnson has upside but is a questionable fit next to Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan. The Blazers may land a starting forward and a mid-first-round pick for Simons. It is not a ton, but the Spurs are always cautious about not overpaying.
The Portland Trail Blazers can likely find a better deal elsewhere and should focus on a franchise in need of a guard with aspirations to seriously contend.