Proposing an unconventional role for Anfernee Simons with the Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers and General Manager Joe Cronin have many decisions to make this offseason regarding the direction of their roster. One glaring problem that needs to be solved is that their three promising young players, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, present a log jam at their guard positions. The up-and-coming trio can’t defend effectively enough to consider them the Blazers’ long-term answer as three of their five starters.

Simons was recently named a top ten trade asset this offseason by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley. It’s plausible he’s on the move this summer, and the Blazers decide to shift their focus to the future guard tandem of Henderson and Sharpe. Simons has been part of multiple mock trade scenarios, with the Orlando Magic seeming like a popular landing spot with their glaring need for a guard to complement Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Simons, almost 25, has also expressed his desire to win entering his seventh season in the NBA, which could also play a role in Portland potentially moving him.

Anfernee Simons should be the Blazers' sixth-man

However, if Simons does stay, it should be in a sixth-man role. It may be challenging to get Simons to buy into a role coming off the bench for a rebuilding team, but he may not mind as much if he's still playing over 30 minutes a game and closing out games. Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden said, "It's not so important who starts the game, but who finishes it."

The primary reason Simons should be coming off the bench is his shooting and positional flexibility as a combo guard. When Henderson is out, Simons can come in and run the point. When Sharpe is out, Simons can spell him as the shooting guard. Simons complements both Henderson and Sharpe well with his elite three-point shooting and would be able to space the floor to allow them to drive. He could also thrive in a sixth-man role with his microwave scoring ability and is one of the few players on the Blazers' roster who can singlehandedly take over the game in a matter of minutes. 

Billups can also play the trio together at times, but putting Simons in this sixth-man role would limit their time together, improving their defense. It would also give Henderson more confidence and comfort; knowing that this is his team to run as the starting point guard would help the young guard who needs to continue developing. Bringing Simons off the bench is not a perfect solution, but it's something to consider that would help the Blazers navigate their log jam at the guard position.