Blazers dangling high-scoring guard in trade talks amid Damian Lillard rumors
Despite rumblings of Damian Lillard's inevitable exit from Portland heightening over recent months, the Trail Blazers remain hopeful they can keep Dame D.O.L.L.A. in the Pacific Northwest.
League sources informed The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor that Portland's desire to build around Lillard is "genuine" and that the front office is exploring trades for its No. 3 overall pick as well as moving guard Anfernee Simons. O'Conner floated Jaylen Brown (Boston), Pascal Siakam (Toronto) and Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn) as potential trade targets for Portland.
Simons, 24, is coming off the most productive campaign of his five-year career. In 62 games (all starts) this season, the former prep school star from IMG Academy averaged a career-high 21.1 points on 44.7% shooting from the field. A sniper from beyond the arc, Simons has made 39.7% of his threes since 2020-21.
While Simons should intrigue suitors on the trade market, in Portland he falls victim to a meshing conundrum. Much like his predecessor CJ McCollum, the 6-foot-3-inch Simons is operating as a two-guard in a one-guard's frame. In reality, he's a volume-scoring point guard who is forced to play out of position due to Lillard's presence — not ideal for a player who is already lacking in the defensive department.
By most accounts, the Trail Blazers appear to value guard Shaedon Sharpe and what they perceive as legitimate All-Star potential over Simons. Flipping the latter and the No. 3 overall pick from this month's draft would almost certainly yield the type of trade return Lillard is hungry for, even if it doesn't mean snagging the most tantalizing player on Portland's wish list.
Striking a deal with the Celtics for Brown may be easier said than done.
Despite his lapses during the postseason, Boston has remained adamant that it would like to keep the two-time All-Star in Beantown amid his looming supermax extension. Brown would be an ideal fit on the wing for the Blazers and a massive upgrade over the offensively limited Matisse Thybulle at small forward.
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