#24 Anfernee Simons

[Natebishop3]

Simons advanced stats for SL

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Anfernee-Simons/Summary/106511

21 PER

60 TS%

55.3 eFG%

2.22 STL%

118.6 ORtg

90.7 DRtg

Compare that to someone like Crabbe who was in his third SL
https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Allen-Crabbe/Summary/9300

21.75 PER

61.9 TS%

60.6 eFG%

102.7 ORtg

100.8 DRtg

That was by far Crabbe's best SL. His first two were terribad. In his first SL he averaged 25.9 minutes per game, 6 games and 3 starts and only averaged 5 ppg, shot 30% from the field, and 23.5% from three. Of course, he only averaged 7 FGA during that summer league. I think that was a CJ summer league. Bad point guard play. I want to really highlight how much of a difference Baldwin is having on our team.

Actually, let's look at CJ

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/CJ-McCollum/Summary/17251

CJ also played in 2013-2014 Summer league, as well as the 2014-2015 SL.

He averaged 20.6 ppg between those two tournaments. He played 34 minutes per game, and shot 41% from the field. He shot 32.8% from three.

In his first SL he had:

17.87 PER

46.5 TS%

411 eFG%

98.4 ORtg

102.4 DRtg

In his second SL he had:

24.59 PER

58.6 TS%

54.8 eFG%

110.6 ORtg

97.4 DRtg

I think it's extremely impressive what Lil Penny is doing. I think he's benefiting from having Baldwin though.

 

[hoopsjock]

What are you going to say after he lets them expire?

I could totally see the plan unfolding in front of my eyes and I hate it.

They’re going to get Biggie in the rotation because first round pick.

Then they’re also going to put Layman in the rotation because third year “jump.”

Neil will start hyping up the trade deadline, and then when that inevitably passes without a move, he’ll talk about how much more activity there is in the summer.

And round and round we go!

I’m not falling for it anymore.

And for the record it’s not all on Olshey. Paul should’ve fired him a long time ago. We’re still paying for 2016, yet Olshey is somehow still here.

I've already told you I'm going to be pissed if they waste such a valuable asset.

I truly believe this year is different. It was reported that Allen told Olshey he had one job this summer and that was to make the team better. He can't spin his way out of this one if the team doesn't improve and he'll be gone.

Even though his moves don't make sense given his statements from the exit interview, I do like GM's who never forget to keep trying to develop young players. I wouldn't have made the trade for Trent because it seemed costly at the time giving up two 2nd rounders (including Miami's 2021) but he definitely has a skill set to be an NBA rotation player someday. Simons has all the tools to be a star, it will be up to him if he realizes that potential. Picking up Baldwin last year and even PapaG though he didn't work out were smart moves in my opinion. The roster still needs balance and that is why I think other moves are still to come.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Remember: it's Summer League, folks. I like what I see from Simons, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I'm eager to see how he does in preseason, if he plays at all (he should).

Personally, I'm more excited about Trent. That dude's got a good shot. I hope he develops some good Defense to go with it.

 

[dviss1]

Olshey is great in drafting Players, i give him 100% credit for that. But he's also a bad gm in free agency and contracts for Players imo. And sometimes to afraid to make a deal

2 bad contracts that's it.

And honestly, afraid to make a deal?

How can someone say this and definitively know what they're talking about?

 

[Reep]

Simons advanced stats for SL
...
I think it's extremely impressive what Lil Penny is doing. I think he's benefiting from having Baldwin though.

Certainly ORtg and DRtg, and a few other stats, benefit from playing good team offense and defense, which Baldwin and Moran have both made happen. I don't remember seeing any of CJ's teams play that well together on either end of the court. Heck, I don't ever recall any SL team playing together like that. BUT, certainly Simons did his job in the flow of both the offense and defense and deserves some of the credit. If he continues like this I would expect some action at the trade deadline to move some of our wing shooters.

 

[Lanny]

Now it’s SL and I realize that’s not the best place to judge a guy, but he looked pretty good out there. He wouldn’t be the first skinny kid to make it in the NBA...

Travis Outlaw was a skinny kid. So, was Steph Curry.

 

[theprunetang]

Travis Outlaw was a skinny kid. So, was Steph Curry.

Durant.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Would Dame and CJ have been as good if they had skipped college? There are advantages to drafting basketball players instead of "projects."

Most likely, because they would’ve been developed in the NBA for 4 years against better competition, stronger and faster. It’s not like they got more natural talent in college and it’s hard to assume if they skipped college they would have no work ethic. As a matter of fact, it seems CJs college experience didn’t help him too much, since he had to sit out essentially and get used to the NBA.

In fact, you make a good point, they would’ve been better, sooner; most likely.

 

[Reep]

Travis Outlaw was a skinny kid. So, was Steph Curry.

Tyson Chandler.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Olshey is great in drafting Players, i give him 100% credit for that. But he's also a bad gm in free agency and contracts for Players imo. And sometimes to afraid to make a deal

You can’t fault a GM for being bad in free agency given even if they make a better offer, they can’t force players to sign here - especially when you factor in state taxes. Also, you must understand this is Portland, OR. Not Los Angeles. Now you can fault him for 2 poor contracts, of which there is Meyers and Turner. You can also fault him for Nurk, Aminu, Harkless, and many other bargain contracts he has signed. He has, with others help, also maneuvered the cap pretty well. You know who hasn’t? OKC.

Drafting is the only thing 100% under control. Neil, for the most part, has nailed that.

You also have no clue if he is afraid to make a deal, unless you’re part of the Blazers executive team.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Ainge has made some great decisions since 2007. Before that he was a terrible GM. He traded the 7th pick in 2006 to us for Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair. Since 2008 do you realize that these are all 1st round picks he has made: JR Giddens, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, James Young, RJ Hunter, Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic, and now Robert Williams (who has all kinds of issues already). If not for one miracle trade with Brooklyn he wouldn't have any of his higher draft picks that have done well either. I don't see that as perfect.

And zero championships as currently constructed. Did he construct the original big 3?

 

[JoshuaHall]

It's the complacency that gets me. He's sleeping at the wheel. When he's out doing daily interviews on ESPN/NBA TV during SL games, Denver reshaped its financial picture and improved for the future. The optics just aren't good when he makes empty promises and patronizes anyone who hints at a criticism. You'd think with so much pressure from Dame, he'd do something. Instead all we hear are excuses. "Portland isn't a FA draw." "No other team is making deals (blatantly false)." etc etc

If Evan and Meyers had one year left, would you give up our first and second rounders to dump them, just to save money - not to improve your team, but to cut costs?

Also, Denver could do that because those contracts had a single year left, unlike ours. Don’t see the connection to us and Denver, at all. Completely different scenarios.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Ugh.

True, but still better than the guys SAS took 19 spots ahead of him at 18.

I think both Simons and Trent will end up being considered steals for where they were selected. I think Trent will be a better, more aggressive version of Crabbe, who was a good value at 31.

BNM

 

[hoopsjock]

And zero championships as currently constructed. Did he construct the original big 3?

Yes, he brought in Allen and Garnett in the summer of 2007. He was crying when the Celtics didn't win the Oden sweepstakes which in theory turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him as GM. Funny how that works out sometimes.

 

[Hoopguru]

I remember a couple years back Tony Allen was interviewed and he talked about his relationship with Olshey and how Neil was very much respected amongst many of the players from his
time as a trainer, with ballers.
Neil has this year to convince Paul that we are tracking in the right direction and get us to take the step.
Its either going yo happen or its not, I bet it happens.

 

[Driew]

I remember a couple years back Tony Allen was interviewed and he talked about his relationship with Olshey and how Neil was very much respected amongst many of the players from his
time as a trainer, with ballers.
Neil has this year to convince Paul that we are tracking in the right direction and get us to take the step.
Its either going yo happen or its not, I bet it happens.

Didn't NO sign an extension last summer?

 

[Propagandist]

You can’t fault a GM for being bad in free agency given even if they make a better offer, they can’t force players to sign here - especially when you factor in state taxes. Also, you must understand this is Portland, OR. Not Los Angeles. Now you can fault him for 2 poor contracts, of which there is Meyers and Turner. You can also fault him for Nurk, Aminu, Harkless, and many other bargain contracts he has signed. He has, with others help, also maneuvered the cap pretty well. You know who hasn’t? OKC.

Drafting is the only thing 100% under control. Neil, for the most part, has nailed that.

You also have no clue if he is afraid to make a deal, unless you’re part of the Blazers executive team.

The tax thing, yes. True. But you sure as hell can blame a GM for sucking at his job, yes. Get over the inferiority complex about Portland. Olshey cannot close deals. That's on him.

"Maneuvered the cap pretty well" makes me feel like I'm dreaming. What on earth. Nailed the draft?!! Yikes.

And OKC is a cap mess. But at least they are getting guys. They are rejecting Melo. A guy we couldn't even get to consider us, they are jettisoning... And he still wouldn't consider us. Why? I'd say because of the Captain Olshey sailing without a rudder.

 

[Boob-No-More]

They are rejecting Melo. A guy we couldn't even get to consider us, they are jettisoning... And he still wouldn't consider us. Why? I'd say because of the Captain Olshey sailing without a rudder.

Who gives a shit if Melo is considering us? I'm just glad we're not considering him. The guy flat out sucks. There's a reason OKC is jettisoning him after just one season and eating the final year of his contract.

And for everyone bitching about POR having $4.7 million in dead cap space for stretching Nicholson and Varegao, OKC is going to have $9.3 million in dead cap space for the next three seasons for stretching Carmelo. You can't praise them and condemn POR at the same time. Stretching him will save them $91 million in luxury tax payments, but they are still way over the luxury tax threshold and that $9.3 million in dead cap could have been used on someone who would actually be playing for them.

All that, and they still finished behind us in the standings.

Yeah, Olshey's summer of 2016 signings have come back to bite him in the ass. No doubt about that. That was a summer of stupid money league wide, but comparing our cap situation to OKC's makes Presti look way worse than Olshey. I don't think that was your goal.

BNM

 

[Propagandist]

Who gives a shit if Melo is considering us? I'm just glad we're not considering him. The guy flat out sucks. There's a reason OKC is jettisoning him after just one season and eating the final year of his contract.

And for everyone bitching about POR having $4.7 million in dead cap space for stretching Nicholson and Varegao, OKC is going to have $9.3 million in dead cap space for the next three seasons for stretching Carmelo. You can't praise them and condemn POR at the same time. Stretching him will save them $91 million in luxury tax payments, but they are still way over the luxury tax threshold and that $9.3 million in dead cap could have been used on someone who would actually be playing for them.

All that, and they still finished behind us in the standings.

Yeah, Olshey's summer of 2016 signings have come back to bite him in the ass. No doubt about that. That was a summer of stupid money league wide, but comparing our cap situation to OKC's makes Presti look way worse than Olshey. I don't think that was your goal.

BNM

I just knew somebody would act like I wanted Melo. Haha. Yeah, that's not what I was saying...at all.

I can praise them for swinging for the fences, yes. They went for and it didn't worked. And after it didn't, they didn't just say, "We just need to surround Melo with shooters." Nope. They moved on and are still at it, resigning Paul freaking George and signing Nerlens Noel and so forth. I would give no fucks about our payroll if we had a better roster.

Want to wager whether they finish behind us this year? Yeah, I don't think you do.

 

[Hoopguru]

Didn't NO sign an extension last summer?

I think so?

 

[Orion Bailey]

I just knew somebody would act like I wanted Melo. Haha. Yeah, that's not what I was saying...at all.

I can praise them for swinging for the fences, yes. They went for and it didn't worked. And after it didn't, they didn't just say, "We just need to surround Melo with shooters." Nope. They moved on and are still at it, resigning Paul freaking George and signing Nerlens Noel and so forth. I would give no fucks about our payroll if we had a better roster.

Want to wager whether they finish behind us this year? Yeah, I don't think you do.

I would. They still have the black hole, stat padder Westbrick leading the charge. I believ we will finish better than them next year.

I think this will be the year we find more help off the bench and things click On both offense and defense.
It’s a guards league and it’s looking like we are going to have our fill of athletic young guards to throw at the competition.

 

[Propagandist]

I would. They still have the black hole, stat padder Westbrick leading the charge. I believ we will finish better than them next year.

I think this will be the year we find more help off the bench and things click On both offense and defense.
It’s a guards league and it’s looking like we are going to have our full of athletic young guards to throw at the competition.

I really hope you're right. Really really.

 

[Driew]

I think so?

Just seems unlikely that this would be a make or break season for NO if he did.

 

[chzbrgr]

I think both Simons and Trent will end up being considered steals for where they were selected. I think Trent will be a better, more aggressive version of Crabbe, who was a good value at 31.

BNM

Totally agree. Both look like they are going to be, at the very least, solid rotation players. Which at 24 and 31 is a home run of a draft. I’m not a big fan of Neil as a gm, but he can scout a guard better than anybody.

Not saying they will but, I think both can contribute right away. Trent has an nba ready body at 19 and can shoot the rock, simons doesn’t play like the skinny baby he looks like. I have not seen his slight frame hold him back at all. Both have shown a little bit of everything offensively except maybe passing. (Good news is blazers only pass is a handoff!)

HOT TAKE ALERT:
Could be premature but simons looks like he is the heir apparent to dame. Watching him at 19 and he’s already this good? The kid has sky high potential.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Simons has spent his time using his raw talent to beat up on high school kids. Making the jump to NBA player is huge. He has to show the brains/discipline/work ethic - or he becomes another Telfair. I understand why folks want to be optimistic, but let's wait before annointing him the next [insert player name here].

Trent has competed against a higher level of competition at Duke, and that should help his learning curve. OTOH, look how Zach struggled as a rook. (and he was more highly touted in the draft than Trent)

I know some here consider me Debby Downer - but is it really realistic to think either of these guys will contribute this season? If Trent contributes next season, he will still have a sharper learning curve than CJ. Not bad for a second round pick.

 

[1eyejack]

Totally agree. Both look like they are going to be, at the very least, solid rotation players. Which at 24 and 31 is a home run of a draft. I’m not a big fan of Neil as a gm, but he can scout a guard better than anybody.

Not saying they will but, I think both can contribute right away. Trent has an nba ready body at 19 and can shoot the rock, simons doesn’t play like the skinny baby he looks like. I have not seen his slight frame hold him back at all. Both have shown a little bit of everything offensively except maybe passing. (Good news is blazers only pass is a handoff!)

HOT TAKE ALERT:
Could be premature but simons looks like he is the heir apparent to dame. Watching him at 19 and he’s already this good? The kid has sky high potential.

Even hotter and maybe dumb take, some of Simons game reminds m of Kobe. He’s just smooth out there for a 19 year old. Again not saying he’s Kobe so don’t kill me to bad

 

[James lamphear]

I just wait and see approach on these 2 young guys if there going to get minutes next year. But last year Zach wasn't going to get minutes but when his chance was up he was ready to perform and never left rotation. So we never know until it happens.

 

[THE HCP]

You rang, FAMS?

See, you get it.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Ainge has made some great decisions since 2007. Before that he was a terrible GM. He traded the 7th pick in 2006 to us for Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair. Since 2008 do you realize that these are all 1st round picks he has made: JR Giddens, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, James Young, RJ Hunter, Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic, and now Robert Williams (who has all kinds of issues already). If not for one miracle trade with Brooklyn he wouldn't have any of his higher draft picks that have done well either. I don't see that as perfect.

Superlike.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I just knew somebody would act like I wanted Melo. Haha. Yeah, that's not what I was saying...at all.

No, but you're giving Presti credit for "swinging for the fences" when what he really did was a big fat whiff. If Olshey had done the same, given up valuable assets for a 1-year rental of Carmelo Anthony, only to waive and stretch him a year later creating 3 years at $9.3 million a year of dead cap space, you'd be all over his shit. People here are constantly bitching about the $4.7 million in dead cap space Olshey created by waiving and stretching Varejao and Nicholson. Presti creates twice the dead cap space and gets praised for "swinging for the fences".

I can praise them for swinging for the fences, yes. They went for and it didn't worked. And after it didn't, they didn't just say, "We just need to surround Melo with shooters." Nope. They moved on and are still at it, resigning Paul freaking George

You make it sound like they got Paul George for free. Yeah, I love Paul George and would love him on the Blazers, but it turns out, OKC didn't even get the better player in that trade.





Paul George had a good season and made 3rd team All NBA. Oladipo had a great season, won MIP, was 1st team All Defense and also 3rd team All NBA.

And it wasn't just Oladipo that Pressti gave up to get Paul George, he also gave up Domantas Sabonis, who was better off the bench for IND than any big man OKC had.

and signing Nerlens Noel and so forth. I would give no fucks about our payroll if we had a better roster.

OKC gave up a 3rd team All NBA player who was also 1st team all defense, and completely gutted their bench to get Melo and PG13. A year later they managed to resign Paul George (who is two years older and makes $12 million more per season than Victor Oladipo - who is arguably a better player) and are paying Carmelo $9.3 million a year for the next 3 years to NOT play for them. And yet, you sing their praises.

And LOL, Nerlens Noel is NOT the answer. He barely played for one of the crappiest teams in the league last season. Both Damontas Sabonins and Enes Kanter, who OKC gave up (in addition to Oladipo) are better players than Nerlens Noel.

Want to wager whether they finish behind us this year? Yeah, I don't think you do.

You mean like they did last year? Oh wait... Yeah, last year when they landed PG13 and Melo, EVERYONE penciled them in to run away with the NW Division and challenge GSW and HOU for the top spot in the West. How'd that work out? They improved by exactly 1 win and finished behind POR who got shit on for missing out on PG13 and Melo, yet managed to improve by 8 wins.

Yeah, Olshey isn't perfect. His summer of 2016 signings were disastrous, but to praise Presti while trashing Olshey is disingenuous to an extreme - and Presti doesn't even have the Summer of 2016 everyone got stupid money excuse to fall back on. Even after waiving and stretching Melo, OKC is still hopelessly over the tax threshold for the 2nd year in a row and have over $150 million in guaranteed salary for 2019-20, which will cement them as repeat offenders, which will further tie their hands when trying to "improve" their roster.

Keep in mind this is the same GM that lost Kevin Durant for nothing and gave away James Harden for peanuts. Yet, he deserves praise for "swinging for the fences", when what he really deserves is derision for repeatedly striking out.

BNM