If Anfernee Simons plays better than Damian Lillard, then what?

[Blazers Roy]

Well, we're the Blazers. We obviously can't have two excellent players at the same position so we'd have to trade one of them for a big man who MIGHT be injured.

I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be (as stated by the elder gods of basketball).

 

[BBert]

You trade CJ and start them together?

You keep CJ and run the best 3 guard rotation in history?

 

[BBert]

Well, we're the Blazers. We obviously can't have two excellent players at the same position so we'd have to trade one of them for a big man who MIGHT be injured.

I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be (as stated by the elder gods of basketball).

I'm still pissed they traded Moses Malone because they had Walton and Luke.

I'm still pissed they passed on MJ because they had Clyde.

I'm gonna be pissed if they make that stupid mistake again.

 

[CupWizier]

OK, this isn't a prediction.

Anyway, for the sake of argument, let's say Anfernee Simons gets enough playing time to show what he can do, and sooner or later during the upcoming season, or more likely the following season, overall he becomes a better player than Damian Lillard, if only by a small margin. But even that obviously would be a huge development.

Maybe his effectiveness as a scorer is nearly identical, which would be notable since Lillard shot a career-high 52 % effective field goal percentage last season. Though 52% is above average, it's not mind-boggling, so let's say Simons scores at that level and does a better job of passing to moving teammates (hopefully there are some) or something similar making him clearly (if only by a little) better as the primary ball handler. Maybe he gets the ball up the court much faster, which I think we'd all like to see. In any case, to most eyes he becomes a slightly better (at least) point guard.

My question is this: How much better would Anfernee Simons have to be over Damian Lillard for Anferee Simons to be a starter, or the starter? Would being clearly a little better be enough?

Or is it just not going to happen?

Then, there's this: Lillard will be signing a Super Max contract that will keep him with the Blazers for the next 6 years.
How much does this matter when the coach gives roles and playing time to another guy who can play PG slightly better than the guy getting the huge contract?

Two chances of that happening, slim and none and none is leading by a wide margin.

 

[Natebishop3]

Having two players that can swing between point and shooting guard is a nice problem to have.

The problem is that CJ can't run the point. At all. He's not a point guard. It's not in his nature. The ability to handle the ball does not a point guard make. If Simons is capable of actually running the offense, which it seems like he is, then I'm 100% convinced that he can Dame could start together.

 

[SIeepwalker]

The kid has played in a total of 20 games and has a grand total of 141 minutes in his entire career.
By this time in Lillard's career he had 82 games and over 3000 minutes played. He had competed in five All-Star weekend events and won the skills challenge. He was voted Rookie of the Year.

Now tell me again why this question has been asked?

Tbf Lillard was also 3 years older

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Having two players that can swing

Dude, you can wish them to be swingers all you want, they're never going to be interested in you.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We clone each of them so we have 2 players better than Lillard and 2 players that are Lillard.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

The kid has played in a total of 20 games and has a grand total of 141 minutes in his entire career.
By this time in Lillard's career he had 82 games and over 3000 minutes played. He had competed in five All-Star weekend events and won the skills challenge. He was voted Rookie of the Year.

Now tell me again why this question has been asked?

Agreed.

But come on, man.... we all dream and deal in hypotheticals at times.

My concern about the question that was asked isn’t that the OP dared to dream.... it’s that he missed the obvious answer and thus there was no need for the question.

 

[JoshuaHall]

That was one reaction out of several... most answered it in the spirit of "for the sake of argument". Even hypothetically it's just a ridiculous question.

Which is why I said - reactions (where most people answered the thread in line with the ridiculousness)

And then next you have people, who apparently didn’t read the reactions (where most people took it for how ridiculous it was) saying

OMG THE HYPE

When if they read the -Reactions- they’d know the hype isn’t out of control, because, ya know, everyone thought it was a ridiculous proposition.

 

[e_blazer]

If Simons plays better than Dame, @Mediocre Man is going to get so excited he’ll change his handle to Fully Adequate Man.

 

[riverman]

My answer to the OP is well....then he'll get PAID when his rookie deal is up and we'll have 2 allstars on the team for a change

 

[barfo]

There's two ways Anfernee becomes a better player than Dame, and only one of them involves Anfernee becoming a better player.

Careful what you wish for.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

There's two ways Anfernee becomes a better player than Dame, and only one of them involves Anfernee becoming a better player.

Careful what you wish for.

barfo

The other involved barfo going “Jeff Gillooly” on Dame’s knee?

 

[Mediocre Man]

If Simons plays better than Dame, @Mediocre Man is going to get so excited he’ll change his handle to Fully Adequate Man.

Simons is so good he wasn't just a steal last year, he was the steal of this draft also

 

[e_blazer]

Simons is so good he wasn't just a steal last year, he was the steal of this draft also

He’s the most interesting draft pick in the world.

 

[Orion Bailey]

He’s the most interesting draft pick in the world.

Ever

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Then we will be fucking awesome and a championship contender.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Simons is so good he wasn't just a steal last year, he was the steal of this draft also

There’s a good Chuck Norris joke in there.

 

[Hoopguru]

Simons is so good he wasn't just a steal last year, he was the steal of this draft also

Ill believe it when I see it!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Ill believe it when I see it!

You already saw it. That 1 game last year was amazing

 

[Orion Bailey]

You already saw it. That 1 game last year was amazing

He should learn from Layman's debut and subsequent mistake and just retire now with insane numbers.

 

[James lamphear]

Remember he was scoring on their 1st team too. Fox was guarding him and ant was doing alright against him. My problem is he needs get stronger so help him on the defensive side. Offensively I think he can get his shot when he wants too.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

There’s a good Chuck Norris joke in there.

Was thinking the same thing.

Simons’ tears cause cancer. Unfortunately, Simons doesn’t cry.

(I could go all night with these - the wife just started a new job and her new boss is a nephew of Chuck, so we’ve been saying these all week.)

 

[SIeepwalker]

He should learn from Layman's debut and subsequent mistake and just retire now with insane numbers.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

To answer the OP's question: "Then pigs will fly"

 

[AFully22]

lol chilllllllll

 

[Mediocre Man]

Remember he was scoring on their 1st team too. Fox was guarding him and ant was doing alright against him. My problem is he needs get stronger so help him on the defensive side. Offensively I think he can get his shot when he wants too.

EXACTLY!!!! Future HOFer

 

[CupWizier]

wonder if any posters (mm) have changed their view lately?

 

[Labinot41]

What if Anfernee becomes "just a Role player"? I think it's better to wait and see how he plays, like Wizenheimer said this hype is too much right now, and it isn't fair to Anfernee, because pressure

Right now, he is just an role player, and right here right now, a pretty bad role player...