Should we Simonize? (1 Viewer)

[TBpup]

Ant was given the reigns to the Blazer M*A*S*H* unit and he has responded in the last 5 games with:

27.8 ppg
7.6 apg
3.2 rpg
.521 FG%
.446 3pt%
.947 FT%



Having just turned 22 this last summer, he is putting up scary numbers for a player that age. However, given what he is doing, the question remains the same.

Does he fit with Dame?

Could he play off of him at SG? If he did, does that put us right back to 2 smallish guards who need the ball in their hands and neither of them is a very good defender? We've seen that movie for far too long. It doesn't go well.

Would he be happy going back to the bench and being a super-sub....which many people wished for CJ years ago if he was going to be here, but his contract didn't really allow that.

On the other hand, he might best help the Blazers by what he could bring from a team that needs a player with this skills. Take Boston. Tatum/Brown (like Dame/CJ) doesn't work. Would a package of Ant to get back a player like Brown be worth moving the potential of Simons elsewhere?

This is where Joe is going to have to earn his promotion because the clock is ticking.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Unfortunately, I think the real answer is "trade CJ, then see where we're at."

 

[Scalma]

Sixth man. If we don’t go deep next year trade Dame and he can take over.

 

[TBpup]

Unfortunately, I think the real answer is "trade CJ, then see where we're at."

Of course that is the starting point.....should have been done years ago.

But are we right back to Dame/CJ 2.0 with Dame/Simons? Ant seems to be the more willing passer and the ball movement is better, but his defense is sadly about the same and that has had serious limitations when paired with Dame in the passed.

 

[blazerkor]

I think at this point both Ant and CJ need to go by 2/10.

 

[blazerkor]

Of course that is the starting point.....should have been done years ago.

But are we right back to Dame/CJ 2.0 with Dame/Simons? Ant seems to be the more willing passer and the ball movement is better, but his defense is sadly about the same and that has had serious limitations when paired with Dame in the passed.

This is definitely the case... you're right that Simons wouldn't be as much of a ball hog but we can not ever be a winning team with that kind of gaping hole in our defense.

 

[BankTeller]

I think at this point both Ant and CJ need to go by 2/10.

What is considered a good return for Anfernee? At this point to me, a young prospect and a 1st would be too little to me. I don’t think Ant NEEDS to be gone by 2/10, Norm and CJ can still net a decent return. With their salaries gone, would paying $20m for Anfernee be the worst thing in the world? With his scoring ability and age, I still think he would be very tradeable even if it didn’t work out.

 

[tykendo]

Simons is showing incredible ability to finish. The Blazers need to re-sign him. I'm hoping his stint in the starting lineup leads to consistency, whether he starts or not. I think Powell is perfect next to Dame, but Ant would get a minutes spike, and play plenty next to both Dame & Norm. I think CJ will be traded in a package for a permanent frontcourt fix at power forward. Nurk is playing as well as i've seen since the major injury 2 years ago. Could a CJ/pick for John Collins be in the works.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

In my opinion he is the most untouchable player on our roster outside of Dame..the dude is gonna be a star and we will regret trading him Jermaine O’Neal style. He makes CJ and Norm very expendable in the right deal

 

[BonesJones]

Ant was given the reigns to the Blazer M*A*S*H* unit and he has responded in the last 5 games with:

27.8 ppg
7.6 apg
3.2 rpg
.521 FG%
.446 3pt%
.947 FT%



Having just turned 22 this last summer, he is putting up scary numbers for a player that age. However, given what he is doing, the question remains the same.

Does he fit with Dame?

Could he play off of him at SG? If he did, does that put us right back to 2 smallish guards who need the ball in their hands and neither of them is a very good defender? We've seen that movie for far too long. It doesn't go well.

Would he be happy going back to the bench and being a super-sub....which many people wished for CJ years ago if he was going to be here, but his contract didn't really allow that.

On the other hand, he might best help the Blazers by what he could bring from a team that needs a player with this skills. Take Boston. Tatum/Brown (like Dame/CJ) doesn't work. Would a package of Ant to get back a player like Brown be worth moving the potential of Simons elsewhere?

This is where Joe is going to have to earn his promotion because the clock is ticking.

Kinda crazy how the question before the season was "Can Ant play PG at all?" and now it's "Can Ant play SG next to Dame?".

 

[Natebishop3]

Or should we blow it up and build around the real star on the team?

Ben fucking McLemore.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Simons defense isn't good but it's much better than CJ or Norman Powell's. He at least tries and is improving

 

[PCmor7]

The way Simons is playing, I don't think you deal him before you have a feel for where Dame is after the surgery unless you are getting a really exceptional return in trade. I think C.J.'s gone a couple of games after he's back and Norm's definitely expendable, too.

I'd like to see what Simons does on the road, though, as a caveat. It's one thing to have a good three-or-four-game homestand with little pressure, but now the Blazers are back in the playoff picture and have to go on the road. We'll get a better feel for if this is the real Ant, although he's looked tremendous in every possible way this last week or so. I was all for trading him and keeping Nassir before this stretch.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Being 22, putting up the stats he has, and the lack of free agents I think he'll get max offers.

Remember guys like an injured Chandler Parsons, Roy Hibbett, and Enes Kanter all got the max.

With the lack of other talent the Blazers have you probably match it in the summer. The main question to me is what does the team do with the rest of the roster? Maybe you let Nurk and Roco walk.

Seems one of Dame CJ Powell Simons needs to be traded. There is a legit case to trade any of them. Dame is the oldest and would fetch the most assets back. Seems most fans prefer to trade CJ but he probably has the least trade value. Norm is the best defender of the 4. Simons has the most upside which seems the team should keep until they prove to be a contender.

 

[Freshtown]

Being 22, putting up the stats he has, and the lack of free agents I think he'll get max offers.

Remember guys like an injured Chandler Parsons, Roy Hibbett, and Enes Kanter all got the max.

With the lack of other talent the Blazers have you probably match it in the summer. The main question to me is what does the team do with the rest of the roster? Maybe you let Nurk and Roco walk.

Seems one of Dame CJ Powell Simons needs to be traded. There is a legit case to trade any of them. Dame is the oldest and would fetch the most assets back. Seems most fans prefer to trade CJ but he probably has the least trade value. Norm is the best defender of the 4. Simons has the most upside which seems the team should keep until they prove to be a contender.

he’s not going to get the max. I like what he’s been doing, but let’s not act as though he’s 100% destined for big things. He very well may be a Jamal Crawford/jordan Clarkson type 6th man—not capable of being a #1 or #2 option every night but still valuable because he can get hot scoring stretches.

 

[Mr. Robot]

simons will be a starting guard in the nba for sure, but that being said, weve seen what we can do with lillard & cj mccollum backcourt and going forward with lillard & simons backcourt would be the exactly same thing, which means we need to move both cj mccollum & ant and possibly powell too or keep simons as a 6th man, but sooner or later he will demand a starting role and if it doesnt happen, he will demand a trade

im pretty optimistic a deal around simons & grant can happen, simons would be a perfect fit for the rebuilding pistons and hes much better than hayes and also has much higher potential, on the other hand, grant fits the blazers perfectly as the two-way forward and the guy was born in portland, would you believe

i dont think simons will become a franchise player, but will surely become third option at worst, most likely second option on a playoff team, but hey, if you want to rebuild around lillard, you have to go all-in, the time is now

 

[Scalma]

Of course that is the starting point.....should have been done years ago.

But are we right back to Dame/CJ 2.0 with Dame/Simons? Ant seems to be the more willing passer and the ball movement is better, but his defense is sadly about the same and that has had serious limitations when paired with Dame in the passed.

I think we should avoid capping Simons’ ceiling, even on the defensive end. I never thought he’d be a point guard, now he’s looking like a legit playmaker, better than CJ ever looked. He’s got tools to be at least an average defender and he also flashes a lot more on that end than I’ve seen from McCollum, especially at that age.

Right now I see him as an elite sixth man who can play next to Dame in certain lineups, especially late in games when you need guys that can create. There’s no chance they’re gonna trade Dame, but I also don’t think they’re gonna hesitate to blow it all up if they don’t make a legit run next year. Simons has given them the luxury to do that.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

he’s not going to get the max. I like what he’s been doing, but let’s not act as though he’s 100% destined for big things. He very well may be a Jamal Crawford/jordan Clarkson type 6th man—not capable of being a #1 or #2 option every night but still valuable because he can get hot scoring stretches.

I disagree with your guarantee Simons won't get maxed... Here are more guys who got max contracts;

Otto Porter
Hassan Whiteside
Andrew Wiggins
Harrison Barnes
Andre Drummond
Greg Monroe

As I mentioned previously; Chandler Parsons, Enes Kanter, Roy Hibbert also got max deals.

A 22 year old Simons shooting 40% on threes would easily be a rookie scale max target for many teams that have no other decent options with their cap space. Remember when the Blazers signed Evan Turner? We'd probably have much preferred signing a Simons type of 22 year old from another team if that was possible. Also, remember a Simons "max" is much less than a CJ, or Lillard max contract. The Pistons, Magic, Knicks, Wizards, Knicks, Rockets, Thunder, Pelicans, Kings, Spurs, Grizzlies, Mavericks all could be the types of teams looking to add Simons a few months from now in the offseason if the Blazers may not match.

I'm not guaranteeing Simons gets a max, but if he keeps up high level production the rest of the season as he has to date, it certainly is a very real possibility.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

simons will be a starting guard in the nba for sure, but that being said, weve seen what we can do with lillard & cj mccollum backcourt and going forward with lillard & simons backcourt would be the exactly same thing, which means we need to move both cj mccollum & ant and possibly powell too or keep simons as a 6th man, but sooner or later he will demand a starting role and if it doesnt happen, he will demand a trade

im pretty optimistic a deal around simons & grant can happen, simons would be a perfect fit for the rebuilding pistons and hes much better than hayes and also has much higher potential, on the other hand, grant fits the blazers perfectly as the two-way forward and the guy was born in portland, would you believe

i dont think simons will become a franchise player, but will surely become third option at worst, most likely second option on a playoff team, but hey, if you want to rebuild around lillard, you have to go all-in, the time is now

Does trading Simons for Grant, and likely having to let Roco& Nurk walk, make the Blazers contenders next season? I would say clearly no.

Dame
Cj
Powell - NAS
Jerami Grant
Zeller

I don't even know that is a playoff team. Maybe we also switch one of CJ or Powell for a center, but again I don't believe that gets the team close to contention either.

Dame
Powell
NAS
Jerami Grant
Jonas Valanciunas

If we are going to trade Simons and keep Dame there needs to be a path to contend soon. If we can't contend soon keep Simons for the future and consider trading everyone else, possibly even Dame.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

Does trading Simons for Grant, and likely having to let Roco& Nurk walk, make the Blazers contenders next season? I would say clearly no.

Dame
Cj
Powell - NAS
Jerami Grant
Zeller

I don't even know that is a playoff team. Maybe we also switch one of CJ or Powell for a center, but again I don't believe that gets the team close to contention either.

Dame
Powell
NAS
Jerami Grant
Jonas Valanciunas

If we are going to trade Simons and keep Dame there needs to be a path to contend soon. If we can't contend soon keep Simons for the future and consider trading everyone else, possibly even Dame.

Careful. You are gonna rile up the fans that just want to pay Dame even if it means no chance at a title.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Careful. You are gonna rile up the fans that just want to pay Dame even if it means no chance at a title.

If the team is set on keeping Dame there are ways to go that direction in building for the future. However, trading away Simons for an older guy Jeremi Grant that will be 28 while the team is not contending now, isn't the way to go do that.

The Blazers could keep Dame and Simons, then stealth tank rebuild the next few years sort of how the Lakers did with Kobe. If we end up with a young core of even half the players the Lakers had with Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr, Jordan Clarkson, DeAngelo Russell, Ivica Zubac, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Josh Hart we might be able to contend. Its actually very impressive all the talent the Lakers acquired those years, and equally impressive how they now have none of it.

Simons plus 2 other young studs, 3 good role players, and a 36-40 year old Dame maybe could contend one day. Trying to contend soon with the core of this current Blazers roster just isn't realistic.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

If the team is set on keeping Dame there are ways to go that direction in building for the future. However, trading away Simons for an older guy Jeremi Grant that will be 28 while the team is not contending now, isn't the way to go do that.

The Blazers could keep Dame and Simons, then stealth tank rebuild the next few years sort of how the Lakers did with Kobe. If we end up with a young core of even half the players the Lakers had with Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr, Jordan Clarkson, DeAngelo Russell, Ivica Zubac, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Josh Hart we might be able to contend. Its actually very impressive all the talent the Lakers acquired those years, and equally impressive how they now have none of it.

Simons plus 2 other young studs, 3 good role players, and a 36-40 year old Dame maybe could contend one day. Trying to contend soon with the core of this current Blazers roster just isn't realistic.

Yep. Which is why the only hope I have is for a high lotto pick to use or trade for a star to infuse some talent on this team. Otherwise I would trade everyone on the team but Simons and Little for as much as we can get and start over. I don't buy into the pay Dame just because and forego competing if we can't put talent around him. Start over if we can't get him support this offseason.

 

[illmatic99]

I posted this earlier last week, think it's worth refreshing...

these are reference contracts for guards who were FAs last summer:

Paul -- 120 mil, 4 yrs
Powell-- 90 mil, 5 yrs
Lowry -- 85 mil, 3 yrs
Conley -- 68 mil, 4 yrs
Lonzo (RFA, S&T) -- 80 mil, 4 yrs
Dinwiddie -- 54 mil, 3 yrs
Trent (RFA) -- 52 mil, 3 yrs
Graham (RFA, S&T) -- 47 mil, 4 yrs
Rose -- 44 mil, 3 yrs
Hart (RFA) -- 38 mil, 3 yrs
Horton-Tucker (RFA) -- 31 mil, 3 yrs
Burks -- 30 mil, 3 yrs
Caruso (RFA, S&T) -- 37 mil, 4 yrs

I was hoping we could get Ant in the ~15/yr range. Think he's vastly outplaying that number right now. A contract like what Gary got would be terrific.

 

[Hoopguru]

Yep. Which is why the only hope I have is for a high lotto pick to use or trade for a star to infuse some talent on this team. Otherwise I would trade everyone on the team but Simons and Little for as much as we can get and start over. I don't buy into the pay Dame just because and forego competing if we can't put talent around him. Start over if we can't get him support this offseason.

Now that Ant appears to have broken out, and maybe Naz can too, coupled with CJ, that gives us more to consider when trying to engineer trade for all an star and a team around Dame for the next 3-5 years.

 

[twobullz]

I think everyone needs to pause the breaks on Ant's breakout. Lets see how he does on this 6 game road trip before you start building a team around him.

 

[Freshtown]

I think everyone needs to pause the breaks on Ant's breakout. Lets see how he does on this 6 game road trip before you start building a team around him.

ding ding ding.

people here act like it’s rare for a scoring guard to go on a hot streak for a few weeks.

do you know how many bench scorers have have the kind of run ant has had? A lot!

 

[illmatic99]

Thought of a fun comp for Ant as his ceiling.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html

Fun fact... Ant had actually committed to play at Louisville before the Pitino scandal came out.



Also crazy: Simons is 6'3 with a 6'9 wingspan. Mitchell apparently is only 6'1, but with a 6'10 wingspan

 

[wizenheimer]

well, it would be so like Portland to make a rash decision based upon how a player played during a hot streak against weak defense over 5 straight home games.

LOL at "build around Ant".

 

[Strenuus]

Trade him.

That is the only right answer. There are no arguments.

 

[B-Roy]

Thought of a fun comp for Ant as his ceiling.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html

Fun fact... Ant had actually committed to play at Louisville before the Pitino scandal came out.



Also crazy: Simons is 6'3 with a 6'9 wingspan. Mitchell apparently is only 6'1, but with a 6'10 wingspan

They don't play the same at all. Mitchell is crazy physical. Unless Ant bulks up significantly I don't see the similarities. I'm thinking more prime Lou Williams maybe without the foul drawing or prime Jamal Crawford.