Portland Trail Blazers acquire valuable new assets as they choose to part ways with their 25-year-old star player

Portland Trail Blazers acquire valuable new assets as they choose to part ways with their 25-year-old star player, Portland Trail Blazers have successfully built a promising collection of young talent in recent seasons and are poised for another rebuild with the goal of securing a franchise-changing player like Cooper Flagg. Their young core already features talents such as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, who will receive significant development opportunities this season, potentially leaving Anfernee Simons out of the mix.

Simons has developed into one of the NBA’s most skilled guards over the past five years with the Blazers, showing impressive performance both alongside and after Damian Lillard. However, the team doesn’t view Simons as part of their long-term future, making now an ideal time to trade him.

At 25 years old, Simons has the capability to contribute to a competitive team immediately while still offering future potential. Last season, he averaged 22.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. So, what might the Blazers receive in return for Simons? Let’s explore some possible trade scenarios.

The Los Angeles Lakers Give Up A Lot For An Upgrade

The Los Angeles Lakers have been seeking an upgrade at the guard position from D’Angelo Russell for over a year, but their efforts to trade him have yet to succeed. However, the Portland Trail Blazers’ current focus on consolidating their young talent could present the Lakers with an opportune moment. If the Blazers are open to parting with their coveted 2029 first-round pick, the Lakers could acquire a player who not only enhances their point guard position immediately but also complements Anthony Davis well in the post-LeBron James era.

Anfernee Simons boasts strong on-ball skills, with the ability to create, dribble, and score effectively from all areas of the court. His time alongside Damian Lillard has refined his off-ball offensive capabilities, which would be beneficial for the Lakers as they continue to rely on LeBron James and Austin Reaves as primary ball handlers. Simons could help the Lakers mitigate the offensive issues they faced during non-LeBron minutes last season and integrate smoothly with their superstar.

Additionally, Matisse Thybulle would bolster the Lakers’ wing defense, contributing 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals last season. While the Lakers had considered adding a big man, Duop Reath was seen as a temporary solution rather than a long-term answer.

For the Blazers, acquiring a valuable future draft pick, two seasoned veterans on manageable contracts, and a promising young prospect like Jalen Hood-Schifino could be highly beneficial. Rui Hachimura could serve as a useful short-term asset for the Blazers as they focus on rebuilding, but he might attract interest from contending teams after averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds last season. D’Angelo Russell, averaging 18.0 points and 6.3 assists, is also on an appealing expiring contract.

The Miami Heat Push To Win Now And Be Good In The Future

The Miami Heat view the Terry Rozier trade from last winter as their standout move of the offseason. Despite Rozier contributing 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists last season, the team should consider shifting towards a younger and more complementary backcourt option. With ongoing injury concerns surrounding Tyler Herro, adding a guard like Anfernee Simons could significantly improve their situation.

Herro and Simons, both versatile combo guards, could form a dynamic and high-scoring duo. Jimmy Butler has been managing his regular-season workload more carefully in recent years, and acquiring Simons could help the Heat keep Butler fresh while still maintaining a strong roster. Additionally, Simons would benefit from the Heat’s elite defensive setup, which could help address the team’s offensive struggles from the past few seasons.

The Blazers might choose to keep Rozier on their roster as a veteran presence, similar to their handling of Malcolm Brogdon last season, or they could trade him elsewhere. While Rozier might not attract a major offer, his inclusion in a trade could help the Blazers secure another future draft pick, complementing the highly coveted 2029 pick they could receive from the Heat.

The Orlando Magic Allay Their Offensive Woes

Last season, the Orlando Magic made a strong impression by securing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to a seven-game series in their first playoff appearance since 2020. However, their performance could have been even better with a roster more suited for contention, as their offense struggled significantly against the Cavaliers’ defense.

Adding Simons to the team would provide the Magic with a more dependable scoring guard compared to what they had last season. Cole Anthony is effective as a bench player, Anthony Black is still developing, and Jalen Suggs, while an exceptional defender, is inconsistent on offense. A backcourt featuring Simons and Suggs would be formidable, especially with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the frontcourt.

Anthony averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season. He’s a viable trade candidate with a favorable contract and could be valuable to a contending team if utilized correctly. Caleb Houstan, a promising young swingman with defensive versatility, could be a valuable asset for the Blazers’ future. While Houstan is likely to remain, trading Cole Anthony could yield a good return, helping to optimize the acquisition of Simons.