The Blazers’ Anfernee Simons Trade Has Divided The Fans

The Blazers’ Anfernee Simons Trade Has Divided The Fans

Simons was the longest-tenured player on the Portland Trail Blazers roster. The team selected him 24th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, and he developed every year. From a raw prospect, Simons gradually became a starter as his career went on, proudly representing Rip City.

Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers front office went in a different direction when they selected Scoot Henderson in 2023. That meant the youngster from the G League Ignite team was the long-term point guard. This left the team in a weird spot because Simons is great, but he was not the chosen one.

This led to trade rumors centered on Simons, including a return to his hometown team, the Orlando Magic. That did not materialize because they opted to trade for Desmond Bane. With that out of the way, the Blazers looked for other teams, and the Boston Celtics were their trade partner. Unfortunately, this has divided the Portland community.

Portland’s Defense Gets A Boost With This Trade

The Trail Blazers were one of the most promising defensive teams in the second half of the 2024-25 season. With Toumani Camara showcasing his versatility, he earned an All-Defensive Second Team nod. The Blazers also have high-level defenders like Deni Avdija and potential franchise center Donovan Clingan.

Adding Holiday to that defensive unit makes them a defensive unit filled with potential. It will be terrifying to play against Portland’s defense. Under head coach Chauncey Billups, they like playing zone defense. However, they can also do a Camara-led full-court press.

It’s a positive development, as the Trail Blazers could be elite in one area of the game.  They must find ways to improve their offense, but they are relying on their youth to keep growing.

Trading Simons Leaves The Blazers’ Offense Shorthanded

With Simons, the Blazers had a reliable three-level scorer. He was one of the league’s best shot creators, whether it was spotting up or self-created shots. Simons will bring that fiery offense to Boston. He averaged 19.3 points while shooting 36.3% from three on over eight attempts per game last season.

The Blazers are missing a notable shooter on their roster. Jerami Grant is probably the most prolific shooter now, but he is also in a tough spot with his contract.

This means Henderson will get many more minutes without Simons blocking his pathway. Billups challenged him to keep working in the offseason in preparation for a big 2025-26 season. His inefficiency has the Blazers fans worried, but he should be ready for the rise in his responsibilities.

Holiday’s Contract Has Left Fans Puzzled

The biggest talking point about Holiday is his gigantic contract. He is earning $104 million over the next three seasons, so he will be with the team for a while. Unless general manager Joe Cronin trades him at the 2026 trade deadline, Holiday will be there for the long haul.

The contract will hurt the Trail Blazers because it covers a large portion of the team’s cap space. With the team facing a hard cap due to the first apron, the market gets more challenging. Portland’s defense might be strong, but they must work on other areas of the game.

That is where Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe become more important. They are the backcourt of the future, and they will play bigger roles for the team. The duo should take massive leaps in the 2025-26 season, even if Holiday is in the rotation. He won’t block them as much as Simons, who needed the ball to perform at his peak level.

Cronin must find resolutions to the team’s issues with the contracts. Thankfully for him, the market is open for the Blazers to make moves. Deandre Ayton is a trade candidate alongside fellow big man Robert Williams III. They are on expiring contracts, so shedding their deals could help the team.

Letting go of Grant will be more challenging, but if they manage to do so, their books should improve. The offseason is still long for the Trail Blazers, but Cronin must be working to untangle these issues. Portland’s potential is real, but they must make more moves to help clear everything up.