PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 25: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during their game at Moda Center on February 25, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
The case for the Trail Blazers to build around Simons
Quite simply, Simons is proving that he can handle the scrutiny and the pressure of being one of the team’s core players. Simons may look back on January 2022 as the most important month of his career.
It’s worth noting that this didn’t come entirely out of the blue. This is the kind of play the Trail Blazers were expecting from Simons when he was a late first-round pick in 2018.
He went to IMG Academy for a post-graduate year, meaning he never played college ball or in the G-League; Simons was always going to be a developmental prospect.
And Simons flashed the occasional potential in his first three seasons in the league. He averaged 8.3 points off the bench in his second season. Simons averaged less in his third season, but he shot a remarkable 42.6 percent from three-point range.
Simons is really coming into his own this year, though. He’s averaging 15.8 points per game, almost double his previous best. He’s still scorching from three-point range, hitting 40.8 percent of his attempts, and he’s become a better passer too, averaging 3.7 assists per game. His win share total has already exceeded his previous career-high, and the season is barely halfway through.
Because of how he came into the NBA, Simons is still young enough to improve even more, despite this being his fourth season in the league. The guard won’t turn 23 years old until after the season, meaning he could still be years from his best performances. That has to have the Trail Blazers’ front office salivating.
McCollum and Lillard are both on the wrong side of 30. The amount of promising young players on the roster is relatively thin. If there’s anyone to give the franchise hope for the future, it’s Simons.
Portland Trail </a>Blazers’ season off-balance. If there’s been one silver lining, it’s been the emergence of Anfernee Simons.</p>
<p>Simons has been on an absolute tear since being given major minutes and a starting spot in light of the injuries. This month alone, the guard is averaging 24.1 points per game, hitting 4.6 three-pointers a night.</p>
<p>In one game against the Atlanta Hawks, Simons had one of the more unexpected performances of the whole season, dropping 43 points on nine three-pointers. When at his best, Simons stacks up as one of the pure scorers with the most potential in the NBA.</p>
<h2>Anfernee Simons is having a breakout season. Is it enough for the Portland Trail Blazers to invest in going forward?</h2>
<p>The young guard’s recent run of play has come as the roster around him has been decimated by absences. It’s good to see him taking advantage of the opportunity, but the slow return of health to the team could put a limit on his explosive play.</p>
<p>So is Anfernee Simons’ run fool’s gold? Or do the Trail Blazers have something <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-blazers-could-finally-be-ready-to-move-cj-mccollum-after-emergence-of-anfernee-simons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worth building around</a> as a new era in franchise history approaches?</p>
<p>Portland does not have much time to answer those questions.</p>
<p>Simons is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The way he’s playing now, he’ll look to command a fairly high salary, which might force <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a trade of McCollum</a> before the trade deadline comes in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Let’s make the case for and against building around Simons as a primary or secondary option.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Pros </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 25: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during their game at Moda Center on February 25, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>The case for the Trail Blazers to build around Simons</h2>
<p>Quite simply, Simons is proving that he can handle the scrutiny and the pressure of being one of the team’s core players. Simons may look back on January 2022 as the most important month of his career.</p>
<p>It’s worth noting that this didn’t come entirely out of the blue. This is the kind of play the Trail Blazers were expecting from Simons when he was a late first-round pick in 2018.</p>
<p>He went to IMG Academy for a post-graduate year, meaning he never played college ball or in the G-League; Simons was always going to be a developmental prospect.</p>
<p>And Simons flashed the occasional potential in his first three seasons in the league. He averaged 8.3 points off the bench in his second season. Simons averaged less in his third season, but he shot a remarkable 42.6 percent from three-point range.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe width="500" height="281" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzvf9lPjQpU?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Simons is really coming into his own this year, though. He’s averaging 15.8 points per game, almost double his previous best. He’s still scorching from three-point range, hitting 40.8 percent of his attempts, and he’s become a better passer too, averaging 3.7 assists per game. His win share total has already exceeded his previous career-high, and the season is barely halfway through.</p>
<p>Because of how he came into the NBA, Simons is still young enough to improve even more, despite this being his fourth season in the league. The guard won’t turn 23 years old until after the season, meaning he could still be years from his best performances. That has to have the Trail Blazers’ front office salivating.</p>
<p>McCollum and Lillard are both on the wrong side of 30. The amount of promising young players on the roster is relatively thin. If there’s anyone to give the franchise hope for the future, it’s Simons.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cons </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 25: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after he was called for goaltending during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on January 25, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>The case against the Trail Blazers building around Simons</h2>
<p>While Simons has been on a tear in recent weeks, there’s no indication this will be his permanent level of play. It could ultimately prove to be a flash in the pan.</p>
<p>His 24.1 points per game in January is outstanding, but his previous high for a month this season was 13.7 points per game in October. It should come as no surprise that his scoring increased when the number of quality players around him went down.</p>
<p>As McCollum has returned to the lineup, Simons has been able to keep up his scoring bursts. The real test, however, will come when Lillard makes his way back to the court.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers may not have the luxury of time to figure out if that combination works. Lillard’s injury timeline is unclear, but he’s not coming back anytime soon. Then, Simons hits restricted free agency.</p>
<p>Based on his play, Simons could be looking for a major raise next season. But if he’s going to slot behind Lillard and McCollum, rather than alongside one of them, it’s going to be hard to justify the case to pay him a lot of money. It will look even worse if Simons regresses closer to the type of player he was before this season.</p>
<p>Portland is going through a major shift in leadership, too. Chauncey Billups is in his first season as head coach after a long reign for Terry Stotts. Neil Olshey was fired as GM earlier in the season after reports of misconduct.</p>
<p>The ground is shaking in Rip City, and a new regime may be interested in starting things anew.</p>
<p>The current era of Portland Trail Blazers has experienced a lot of success but has never made it to the promised land. If the next era is going to go further, Portland may have to take some big gambles.</p>
<p>Simons’ future is looking just like that, one way or another.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="The Blazers need to seriously consider blowing it up" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/06/portland-trail-blazers-consider-blowing/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/01/portland-trail-blazers-anfernee-simons/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/06/portland-trail-blazers-consider-blowing/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> The Blazers need to seriously consider blowing it up </a> </div>
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