1. Anfernee Simons
Simons had a breakout fifth NBA season in 2023 and proved it was no fluke this year. The 24-year-old set new career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and free throw percentage. He shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range on high volume and took over as the Blazers top scorer with Lillard gone.
Portland has several difficult decisions to make in trying to build back into contention. Can they play Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Simons together? If not, they cannot be Portland’s three best players. Simons likely has the most trade value, and fans have heard the rumblings. Trading an elite scoring 24-year-old guard should net the Blazers significant capital and his stock is still rising.
There are some concerns about his health as he has played 70 games just once in his first six NBA seasons. He has missed the last nine games with a knee injury and his season is likely over with 46 games played. The Blazers need him to play more to fully maximize his value.
The Portland Trail Blazers want to get back into contention and could get aggressive this summer. Whether they go further into their rebuild or try to add pieces to help them contend, Joe Cronin should try to maximize his roster. Stay tuned to see how it all plays out.