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Celtics Trade For Blazers' Anfernee Simons In Bold Proposal – NBA Analysis Network
The Portland Trail Blazers need to trade Damian Lillard. Everyone around the NBA knows it. In time, it will happen. They may send him to the Miami Heat, or they may send him elsewhere. Still, it feels certain that Lillard has played his last game in a Blazers uniform.
Jerami Grant has not. The Blazers extended him this summer, so they can’t trade him yet. Still, it feels like a matter of time. It’s likely that Portland will showcase Grant throughout the year, and then trade him for the best return that they can leading up to the deadline. Then, there’s Anfernee Simons.
Do the Blazers need to trade Simons? No. He’s only 24. If Portland feels like Simons is a cornerstone, they’d be justified in keeping him. Still, for the right price, they’d have to consider moving him. Could the Boston Celtics offer them the right price?
These are questions that any rebuilding team needs to ask themselves. Do we prioritize young players or draft capital? Do we want to start from scratch, or stay relevant? These are the questions – but they do not have easy answers.
Realistically, Portland could opt to keep Simons. This team is obviously apprehensive about rebuilding in the first place. We’ve been speculating about the possibility of them trading Lillard for years. They’ve consistently declined to do so. It’s only now that Lillard has formally requested a trade that we’re expecting Portland to move Lillard.
Who can blame them? A rebuild is painful. It means losing games – sometimes, for years on end. At the same time, the payoff can be enormous. Should the Blazers be patient and trade Simons?
We think so. Keeping Simons would be justifiable. Moving him would be better. More than anything, this is about Shaedon Sharpe.
Could they co-exist? Absolutely. Sharpe has the size to play the 3. The Blazers could lean into a full-time three-guard lineup. In fact, they could build a dominant defense in the course of doing so. Still, doesn’t it feel like they’d build a more balanced team by putting Sharpe in the backcourt next to Scoot Henderson? The Blazers should opt to pair that backcourt with an elite defensive wing. If Matisse Thybulle can hit his threes with any consistency, the Blazers may already have their guy.
Moreover, Pritchard could be the perfect backup for Henderson. He’s got an opposite skillset: Pritchard doesn’t have the explosiveness to create in the half-court, but he’s an elite shooter. Throw in a pair of unprotected first-round picks, and this could be enough for Portland to move on from Simons. Should the Celtics want him?
By contrast, there will be no rebuild in Boston. This team just made a huge commitment to Jaylen Brown. The Celtics are squarely in title contention, and they’re going to stay there.
Does that mean that they need to move Brogdon? Not necessarily. If he’s healthy and playing well, Boston may prefer to keep him. On the other hand, Brogdon’s health is a concern. Meanwhile, his game is similar to Derrick White’s. The Celtics could move to diversify their backcourt.
Simons would help. He’s comfortably the best offensive player in this group. Simons is an elite floor spacer who can create his own shot in half-court sets. Simons is a fantastic player. In fact, he’s the type of player a contender could really use.
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