The Anfernee Conundrum

[wizenheimer]

Ant has no market according to Jake Fischer.

do you have a link for that? But I'm not surprised

IMO, when looking at 3rd-4th options (which Ant is), teams value wings; they value length; they value 2-way players; they value versatility and defense; they value 3&D. Ant provides the '3' at a solid level, but other than that, he doesn't provide any of those qualities.

he'd probably have some value as a 6th man if he was being paid 15-18M year, but again, his lack of size, defense, and versatility sets a low ceiling on his value. And having 3 years left on his deal at 26M/year sure isn't helping

I still think he could be main salary filler in a trade for a non-all-star player teams are ready to move. But the Blazers would have to attach something else

 

[Natebishop3]

If Ant has no market, that pretty much stops us cold from making any significant changes to the roster.... unless we move Scoot or Sharpe.

 

[Cugel]

The only way to get a team to take ant is to really sweeten with picks etc. Just a stupid signing by the blazers, just like CJ. WAAAY overpaid for a one way player

 

[B-Roy]

That's a bit of a misrepresentation, given that he calls Ant our "best asset"

View attachment 56403

I read this as: he’s the best trade asset Portland is willing to trade, and I would definitely agree with that, he’s got slight positive value and his salary is being enough to facilitate most deals.

The problem is, the 3 most valuable assets we have are Dame, Scoot and Sharpe. If those are off the table, it’s not a high bar to clear to become the “most valuable trade asset”. Everyone else is negative to neutral value.

Two years after Cronin took over and our most valuable assets are the ones we got tanking for two years and the player that was already a superstar.

 

[Predator]

Are we sure Sharpe can't play the 3? Dame, (winner of Scoot vs. Ant), Sharpe, Grant, (Big) with the other of Scoot or Ant coming off the bench seems somewhat plausible... Nas probably isn't standing for this slander.

They're going to force him to play 3 because we have a million guards, but his measurements suggest he's exclusively a 2. He's 6'4.25 barefoot. I think 6'5.75 (barefoot) is on the low end of true "SF" size.

 

[andalusian]

If FVV goes to Houston (or anywhere else), Toronto is really hurting for a PG. That's how you might be able to flip Ant for a forward from Toronto.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I read this as: he’s the best trade asset Portland is willing to trade, and I would definitely agree with that, he’s got slight positive value and his salary is being enough to facilitate most deals.

The problem is, the 3 most valuable assets we have are Dame, Scoot and Sharpe. If those are off the table, it’s not a high bar to clear to become the “most valuable trade asset”. Everyone else is negative to neutral value.

Two years after Cronin took over and our most valuable assets are the ones we got tanking for two years and the player that was already a superstar.

You're not horribly wrong, but in fairness a) you're forgetting that we have Grant in an S&T scenario as an asset (or maybe Dec 15 with a signing), so that's not nothing; b) if we had Powell and RoCo, we'd still have Ant as our 4th-best asset. That isn't a Cronin Fault thing.

Also probably discussed to death, but I haven't gotten to scream at it yet--what was Olshey thinking locking down FRP projections for most of a decade? Not that I wanted the ability to toss 5 firsts at someone, but that's a lot better than being able to toss zero firsts at someone.

 

[Portland2014]

If Toronto loses Van Vleet could it make sense for them?

 

[UKBlazer]

Either Dame or Ant goes but I don't think both.

Some fans mention his lack of value and then at the same time say there is no way he will accept coming off the bench. Does anyone really think his ego is that big that he would pout? I don't.

Now the other argument is he makes too much to come off the bench. If Dame is traded for expiring contracts I don't see a problem until SS and Scoot are up for extensions.

It's not that he wouldn't accept coming off the bench, it's that you can't have $20mil/per year in salary as a bench player, especially in a small market.

 

[B-Roy]

If Toronto loses Van Vleet could it make sense for them?

Sure! I think they would do this:

 

[Natebishop3]

Sure! I think they would do this:View attachment 56404

That would definitely add some vets and fill out our bench. I still think Dame isn't necessarily asking for vets, but more so wanted a Robin to his Batman.

 

[B-Roy]

That would definitely add some vets and fill out our bench. I still think Dame isn't necessarily asking for vets, but more so wanted a Robin to his Batman.

I proposed this mostly as a joke, but looking at it....at least we're trading a 6'3 player for two 6'8 players and a 6'9 player.

 

[Natebishop3]

I proposed this mostly as a joke, but looking at it....at least we're trading a 6'3 player for two 6'8 players and a 6'9 player.

It's tough because I really don't know how much Rupert or Murray will be able to help next season.

Will Thybulle be back? Will Reddish be back? Will Knox be back? Will Eubanks be back? We have so many questions. Isn't Boucher a backup center?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If Kyrie didn't go back to Dallas, they could really use Ant, but I bet he does.

 

[HansenYang]

Ant has no market according to Jake Fischer.

I'm not really surprised.

 

[HansenYang]

That's a bit of a misrepresentation, given that he calls Ant our "best asset"

View attachment 56403

Could realistically be our 'best asset' and still not have much value.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Thinking outside the box a bit, I can see Texas in Anfernee's future.

San Antonio: squint and you can see a bit of Tony Parker in Ant. And he's a good, coachable kid. I bet they'd offer Keldon Johnson, just because I don't think they see him as their future. I'd much prefer Sochan, but so would they.

Dallas: if Kyrie ditched them, they'd badly need someone like Ant. Playing next to Luka it wouldn't matter that Ant is a SG in a PG's body. Hey, they got great value out of JET back in the day...

Houston: This one's actually the most plausible. They're not getting Harden. They're going to whiff on Fred VanVleet next. So they'll have cap space and nobody to sign, and a need for somebody who can shoot. Won't fix their defense, but neither would Harden. Maybe we give them Ant and Brooklyn gives us Simmons? That means that they (the Nets) can still make a play for Dame if he asks out.

 

[Ha Seung-Boumtje-Boumjte]

One item that I'd like to add here: The decision to potentially trade Anfernee Simons could stem from concerns regarding his behavior in the locker room and its impact on team chemistry. Based on my sources, he has displayed an excessive amount of vulgar jokes and comments that have created a divisive atmosphere within the team, including repeatedly calling Shaedon Sharpe needledick and referring to Nurkic as "big phillistine". Such behavior can have a detrimental effect on team dynamics, leading to tension, discomfort, and potentially affecting overall performance.

 

[andalusian]

Dallas: if Kyrie ditched them, they'd badly need someone like Ant. Playing next to Luka it wouldn't matter that Ant is a SG in a PG's body. Hey, they got great value out of JET back in the day...

Can't see anyone other than Dallas willing to pay Kyrie. They painted themselves into the Kyrie corner. They either have to keep him or they just lost an asset for nothing...

 

[blazerfan11]

They're going to force him to play 3 because we have a million guards, but his measurements suggest he's exclusively a 2. He's 6'4.25 barefoot. I think 6'5.75 (barefoot) is on the low end of true "SF" size.

Sharpe is within 1/2 inch of having the identical standing reach and wingspan as Amen and Ausar Thompson. You don't play defense with your head.
Sharpe is not exclusively a 2.

 

[blazerfan11]

That would definitely add some vets and fill out our bench. I still think Dame isn't necessarily asking for vets, but more so wanted a Robin to his Batman.

Dame already has already had a couple "Robins."
Dame and the Trail Blazers need another Batman. We may have got a couple of them in the last two drafts.

 

[Blazinaway]

I'm not really surprised.

Wow, very sad if true. Seriously then what do we have then to trade besides Shae or Scoot if you prefer to try to keep Dame and bring in another very good player? Nurk is likely negative value, the cupboard is prety bare besides Shae and Scoot. This just reinforces to me that trading Dame is the way to go.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame already has already had a couple "Robins."
Dame and the Trail Blazers need another Batman. We may have got a couple of them in the last two drafts.

Dude, we didn't have Robins.... we had Batgirls. (not meant to be sexist... there just aren't a lot of other options beyond Batman and Robin.)

 

[tykendo]

Dude, we didn't have Robins.... we had Batgirls. (not meant to be sexist... there just aren't a lot of other options beyond Batman and Robin.)

Duuuudes, you got it all wrong. We had freakin' Jokers.

 

[HansenYang]

Wow, very sad if true. Seriously then what do we have then to trade besides Shae or Scoot if you prefer to try to keep Dame and bring in another very good player? Nurk is likely negative value, the cupboard is prety bare besides Shae and Scoot. This just reinforces to me that trading Dame is the way to go.

Welcome to the club.
I don't think there really is a realistic way to get Dame to a championship level team in Portland.

 

[Predator]

Sharpe is within 1/2 inch of having the identical standing reach and wingspan as Amen and Ausar Thompson. You don't play defense with your head.
Sharpe is not exclusively a 2.

View attachment 56412

View attachment 56413

1) This reminds me of all the idiots who were saying Norm could play SF for the same reason. You don't play with the top of your head BS. How'd that go?
2) The twins have about 20 lbs on Shaedon.
3) Amen plays PG and Ausar plays SG, so you compared him to two non-small forwards.
4) I also said 6'5.75 is on the LOW end.

So, cool?

Rupert is 6'6 barefoot with 8'10 and 7'2 (ish). That's a SF.

 

[riverman]

Simons is 23 years.

I think all the assumptions here are that he doesn't improve.

Lillard improved a ton after 23 years old, probably having his best season at 32 years old.

I'm instead going to assume that Simons keeps improving when thinking about him.

Lillard didn't enter the league out of high school like Ant...Lillard was a college player for multiple years. .an older rookie than Ant

 

[PDXFonz]

1) This reminds me of all the idiots who were saying Norm could play SF for the same reason. You don't play with the top of your head BS. How'd that go?
2) The twins have about 20 lbs on Shaedon.
3) Amen plays PG and Ausar plays SG, so you compared him to two non-small forwards.
4) I also said 6'5.75 is on the LOW end.

So, cool?

Rupert is 6'6 barefoot with 8'10 and 7'2 (ish). That's a SF.

Just imagine when players start playing in the high heel Jordans. 6’2 guards are gonna be 7’6 and nobody will be able to stop them.

Rudy Gobert is about to be a 9’4 wacky waving inflatable arm menace.

Picture this… Victor Wenbenyama has to duck at half court so he doesn’t bonk his head on the scoreboard.

 

[blazerfan11]

1) This reminds me of all the idiots who were saying Norm could play SF for the same reason. You don't play with the top of your head BS. How'd that go?
2) The twins have about 20 lbs on Shaedon.
3) Amen plays PG and Ausar plays SG, so you compared him to two non-small forwards.
4) I also said 6'5.75 is on the LOW end.

So, cool?

Rupert is 6'6 barefoot with 8'10 and 7'2 (ish). That's a SF.

 

[blazerfan11]

1) This reminds me of all the idiots who were saying Norm could play SF for the same reason. You don't play with the top of your head BS. How'd that go?
2) The twins have about 20 lbs on Shaedon.
3) Amen plays PG and Ausar plays SG, so you compared him to two non-small forwards.
4) I also said 6'5.75 is on the LOW end.

So, cool?

Rupert is 6'6 barefoot with 8'10 and 7'2 (ish). That's a SF.