The Portland Trail Blazers are a rebuilding team in flux. They have multiple established players involved in trade rumors, including Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and, to a lesser extent, Deandre Ayton, Matisse Thybulle, and Robert Williams III. Of these seemingly available players, Simons has the highest trade value around the league and should net the Blazers the most in any potential return. He's just entering his prime and, on a relatively team-friendly contract, owed $25.9 million this upcoming season.
A rebuilding team like the Blazers would typically consider a 25-year-old coming off a season in which he averaged 22.6 points per game as a focal point of their rebuild. However, they are in a unique position where their two highest-upside players, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, are both guards. Given Simons' trade value and Portland's emphasis on rebuilding around Scoot and Sharpe, a Simons trade seems likely at some point. But it remains to be seen if one will happen before training camp.
Simons is entering his seventh season and wants the opportunity to win. Because of this, a few rebuilding teams in need of a sharpshooting combo guard can be eliminated from the conversation for the best match for a potential trade partner, including the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz. Still, this isn't to say it's impossible in the excitingly unpredictable NBA landscape. Remember when Damian Lillard was supposed to go to the Miami Heat?
Honorable mention - Miami Heat
Speaking of the Heat, if they had significant interest in Lillard, why wouldn't they want a younger, cheaper alternative in Simons? With two-way stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, they are well-equipped to compensate for Simons' defensive weaknesses.
But the Heat added another combo guard, Terry Rozier, who, like Simons, offers a microwave scoring ability and flashes of playmaking. Additionally, the Blazers' decision to spurn the Heat and trade Lillard to an Eastern Conference rival, the Bucks, may have weakened the trade relationships between the two teams.
Although they are strikingly similar players, Simons is a worse version of arguably the Blazers' best player in franchise history. Miami might not be inclined to give up significant assets for Simons if they don't think he's the piece that will put them amongst the elite teams in the improved Eastern Conference.
5. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors finished last season with a 25-57 record. That does not fit the criteria for giving Simons the chance to win. But they are at least retooling and trying to remain competitive, as opposed to the Blazers, who are rebuilding and doing everything they can to land a top draft pick next year.
Simons is an ideal fit with the Raptors' timeline. Toronto's core players are Scottie Barnes (23 years old) and former New York Knicks Immanuel Quickley (25) and RJ Barrett (24). The 25-year-old Simons would be an excellent addition to the Raptors' strategy of attempting to win in the next few years as these players enter their primes together.
The main concern would be defensively, as Quickley and Simons would be an undersized backcourt; this issue is the main thing that keeps Toronto at No. 5 in the ranking. But both are combo guards and would give the Raptors lineup flexibility to keep one guard on the court at all times, surrounding star Barnes with elite shooting and secondary playmaking to optimize his strengths and negate his weaknesses.
For the Blazers, Toronto has Bruce Brown, who they could either keep or flip for additional assets. 20-year-old Kansas guard Gradey Dick would be another intriguing piece as a 6-foot-6 shooter to bring off the bench. However, in any deal involving Simons, the most likely focal point of the trade for Portland will be draft compensation. He should require at least two first-round picks to be moved. The Raptors have two 2026 first-round picks, one of which is the top four protected by the Pacers, which would be a great starting point in potential trade discussions.
4. Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are in more of a win-now mode after acquiring 35-year-old DeMar DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade this summer. DeRozan picking Sacramento in free agency is a turning point for the Kings' franchise. However, they still are a tier below the elite teams in the Western Conference, such as the OKC Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks.
The Kings could benefit from adding another piece to their starting lineup. Specifically, they need to find an upgrade from Kevin Huerter. Adding Simons would give the Kings the same issue as the Raptors regarding having an undersized backcourt between Simons and De'Aaron Fox. But Simons' elite shooting would be perfect in Sacramento's offensive system, which likes to get out in transition to play to Fox and Domantas Sabonis' strengths.
When Fox is on the bench, Simons could slide into lead guard duties to initiate the offense along with Sabonis, with Sith Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk or Providence rookie Devin Carter playing the shooting guard role. Simons' combo guard abilities would give the Kings much more lineup versatility and add another level to their already lethal offense, doubling down on their team strength and identity.
They also need a backup center for Sabonis to give them more rim protection. Robert Williams III makes sense for Sacramento. Perhaps the Blazers could work out a blockbuster deal involving both Simons and Williams III.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are strongly linked to Jerami Grant, but does Simons make more sense for them? Early in the offseason, the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick was deemed the No. 10 trade asset on the market this summer, while Simons was ranked at No. 9 by Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley. The Lakers already are set in the frontcourt between LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who can play the power forward and center positions if needed, depending on the construction of the rest of their roster.
The Lakers need more help in their backcourt. Austin Reeves is a solid player but shouldn't be relied on as heavily in the offense to generate looks as he is. If Reeves is the third star and best guard, your team isn't going to go very far in the playoffs, regardless of what Hall of Fame talent leads the way. D'Angelo Russell has promising stretches at times but isn't consistent enough to be considered the Lakers' long-term answer at point guard.
Simons would be a great fit for Los Angeles as someone who is a more reliable shooter than anyone currently on their roster, providing floor spacing for James and Davis to operate. His combo guard abilities would also take some of the pressure off the 39-year-old James as a playmaker. Davis' elite rim protection and defensive skill set would also make up for any concerns surrounding Simons as a defender.
Additionally, Simons is 25 compared to Grant, who is 30, giving the Lakers more comfort in making a trade without having to go all in and sacrifice their future in hopes of winning another ring with LeBron.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Similarly to how the Lakers would be an excellent fit for Simons because Anthony Davis is anchoring the middle defensively, the San Antonio Spurs have their own rim protector by the name of Victor Wembanyama (only he's a towering 7-foot-4). Wemby is only 20 years old and entering his second year in the NBA after a historic season capped off by Rookie of the Year honors.
Despite his age, "The Alien" is a legitimate threat to win Defensive Player of the Year as early as next season, with MVP conversations not too far behind. The Spurs are in a rare and ideal position to feel pressure to accelerate their rebuild around their ascending superstar.
Many thought Atlanta's Trae Young, who plays similarly to Simons except for being a better facilitator, would have been a great fit for the Spurs. But now that the offseason dust has settled, Simons remains an excellent trade option that would fill many of San Antonio's roster needs. It's essential to surround Wemby with as much shooting as possible to capitalize on double-team situations, and having young players like Simons and Devin Vassell in the backcourt would be a solid foundation.
One particular Spurs player stands out as a potential trade target for the Blazers if they trade Simons to San Antonio - Keldon Johnson. He's not a great fit with the Spurs' young core and the direction they want to take their roster by adding complementary pieces around Wemby. Meanwhile, the Blazers have too many guards and centers and need more help at their wing positions.
The 24-year-old Johnson would have plenty of opportunity to thrive with the Blazers as a long-term starting forward alongside Deni Avdija, assuming they ultimately move on from Jerami Grant.
1. Orlando Magic
All offseason, the Orlando Magic have been the team most frequently linked with Anfernee Simons in a potential trade, and justifiably so. Simons is from the Orlando area (Altamonte Springs) and played at IMG Academy before being drafted by the Blazers. A potential hometown return makes sense for all parties involved.
The Magic recently signed free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a great addition to bolster their backcourt and add a veteran 3-and-D player. But KCP isn't a playmaker, and the Magic still need to add someone to take some of the playmaking responsibilities off of Paolo Banchero. Simons can contribute offensively both on-ball, initiating offense in pick-and-rolls, and off-ball as a spot-up shooter.
He'd also fit their timeline, as Banchero is 21, Franz Wagner is 22, and Jalen Suggs is 23. Suggs and Jonathan Isaac are the two dream targets the Blazers should try to get from the Magic in a potential Simons deal. However, it is unlikely that Orlando would be willing to part ways with the Gonzaga guard or Florida State forward, both of whom they highly covet. It's much more likely the trade is centered around young players like Anthony Black, Jett Howard, or Cole Anthony and multiple first-round picks.
Simons wants the chance to win as he enters the prime of his NBA career, and the Magic are a dark horse team that will give him a reasonable shot at a deep playoff run with an underrated young core and multiple star players.