Trade value for Anfernee Simons?

[JRoy]

4 SRPs and salary filler

If that’s his value may as well keep him until his contract expires.

[babyjax13]

4 SRPs and salary filler

If that’s his value may as well keep him until his contract expires.

I do think someone will offer a first, it just might not be a particularly good one. It's unfortunate as fan of a team that also has an absolutely electric small guard scorer (Sexton) that these guys are just everywhere.

[LarsV8]

Seems like a negative value contract to me.

[Blazinaway]

It's only one game but as bad as Scoot looked in the first preseason game I don't think the Blazers should trade Ant unless/until they see significant improvement from Scoot, something I am becoming less confident will happen. I hope they bring Scoot off the bench as he simply does not deserve to start

[Fitz303]

I really hope the Blazers don't trade Simons (especially if his value is at all as it's perceived to be in this thread). Let him play PG and surround him with good defenders. They've begun to accumulate good defenders. Camara, Avdija, Matisse, Clingan, Williams. He's got help around him, as long as he doesn't play heavy minutes alongside Scoot.

[Village Idiot]

I really hope the Blazers don't trade Simons (especially if his value is at all as it's perceived to be in this thread). Let him play PG and surround him with good defenders. They've begun to accumulate good defenders. Camara, Avdija, Matisse, Clingan, Williams. He's got help around him, as long as he doesn't play heavy minutes alongside Scoot.

Indeed. Unfortunately having such a crappy coach will cap this current team which is just as well this season given the depth of the West and the opportunity in this draft class.

[Walton1one]

They should absolutely trade Simons, he isn’t resigning in POR

[Fitz303]

They should absolutely trade Simons, he isn’t resigning in POR

And what makes you say that?

[Walton1one]

He literally came out at the end of last year talking about being here 6 years, and that he was tired of losing.

Well, this will be year 7, next year, year 8, at that time he will be 27, in his prime, going into year 9.

He wants to play in meaningful games, that is not going to happen in POR, at least for awhile, even if Scoot and/or Sharpe suddenly blow up or Deni plays like an all star or POR “captures the Flagg” and he or whomever they draft in 25’ explodes in their rookie year (not even addressing the obvious issue that Scoot\Simons do not fit well together in the backcourt)

I’d say there is a greater chance that NONE of the above happens

POR has been down this road before, with Aldridge, and that GM (Olshey) did not take it serious enough or in his hubris thought he could convince LA to stay, and as a result this franchise lost him for nothing, that is what will happen with Simons, and a team like POR, that struggles to attract quality FA, cannot afford that to happen

Oftentimes players are much more cryptic\diplomatic about leaving in FA, so when they make comments like Simons’ did, a good GM takes notice

Maybe Cronin did, his repeated omissions of mentioning Simons and talking about building around Scoot\Sharpe were telling, once can be an honest omission IMO, but 3? times, much harder to believe

Of course money always talks and they could grossly overpay him (he is overpaid now IMO). Paying a player like Simons $30+mil/year would be GM malpractice, but Cronin (if he is still GM) may be up for it (see Grant’s contract)

[Myth]

He literally came out at the end of last year talking about being here 6 years, and that he was tired of losing.

Well, this will be year 7, next year, year 8, at that time he will be 27, in his prime, going into year 9.

He wants to play in meaningful games, that is not going to happen in POR, at least for awhile, even if Scoot and/or Sharpe suddenly blow up or Deni plays like an all star or POR “captures the Flagg” and he or whomever they draft in 25’ explodes in their rookie year (not even addressing the obvious issue that Scoot\Simons do not fit well together in the backcourt)

I’d say there is a greater chance that NONE of the above happens

POR has been down this road before, with Aldridge, and that GM (Olshey) did not take it serious enough or in his hubris thought he could convince LA to stay, and as a result this franchise lost him for nothing, that is what will happen with Simons, and a team like POR, that struggles to attract quality FA, cannot afford that to happen

Oftentimes players are much more cryptic\diplomatic about leaving in FA, so when they make comments like Simons’ did, a good GM takes notice

Maybe Cronin did, his repeated omissions of mentioning Simons and talking about building around Scoot\Sharpe were telling, once can be an honest omission IMO, but 3? times, much harder to believe

Of course money always talks and they could grossly overpay him (he is overpaid now IMO). Paying a player like Simons $30+mil/year would be GM malpractice, but Cronin (if he is still GM) may be up for it (see Grant’s contract)

I’m in the trade Simons boat, but money talks in this league, and even though you said there is a good chance none of those things happen, just one of them happening can change the trajectory (especially landing Flagg). The Aldridge comparison also falls flat to me, because losing him for nothing was a big deal, while losing Simons for nothing isn’t nearly the same sort of setback. But I would prefer to land a first for him, even if Scoot continues to suck. People want him as a backup option at guard but I don’t view him as the answer to the team with or without Scoot.

[Walton1one]

For sure, the loss of LA would be bigger than if POR let Simons walk for nothing. However, my point is POR cannot allow any player of valuable talent to just walk for nothing. They can't just reach into the FA market and easily find his replacement. Letting Simons walk for nothing would be leaving value on the table, POR cannot do that.

I agree, money talks, but if Cronin pays Simons $30+mil a year that would be extremely foolish, especially when the market for players better than him is lower than he will be getting the next 2 years.

[ConSarnit]

For sure, the loss of LA would be bigger than if POR let Simons walk for nothing. However, my point is POR cannot allow any player of valuable talent to just walk for nothing. They can't just reach into the FA market and easily find his replacement. Letting Simons walk for nothing would be leaving value on the table, POR cannot do that.

I agree, money talks, but if Cronin pays Simons $30+mil a year that would be extremely foolish, especially when the market for players better than him is lower than he will be getting the next 2 years.

Here's the problem. Simons currently makes $25.8m this season. He's a free agent in 2026.

2024/25: 25.8/141m = 18.2% of the cap

2026/27: 170m*18.2% = $31.1m

If Simons signs the same deal as his current one (relative to the cap) he's going to be paid $30m+. And if that's a foolish deal then his current deal is equally foolish and who wants to give up anything of value to take that on?

[Tim Lehrbach]

Letting Simons walk for nothing would be leaving value on the table, POR cannot do that.

Simons only has "value" if another team wants to trade for him. We don't know that any team does. Or, if that "value" is matching salary attached to players the Blazers don't want and/or a second round pick or two, is it really a loss if he walks instead?

[Walton1one]

I think there are teams, that would have an interest in trading for Simons. He only has 2yrs left on his current deal, so the investment should not be an issue for most teams, he is due $25.89mil this year & $27.67mil next year, at which point he will be 27, still well within his prime as a player.

Given the new CBA & judging by the types of deals for players similar to him (6th man\scorer off the bench type), I would anticipate he will likely sign for less than his current salary to another team (not for POR), especially a competitive one, as he wants to win.

Defensive issue aside, he is a very good offensive player 21/22 pts/game LY on 37%/38% 3pt shooting on 9att/game on a high usage rate (28.9), where opposing teams were overwhelmingly focused on him when he was on the floor.

He is worth and should be able to return a 1st round pick at minimum. Now is that what Cronin is asking for? Or is he asking for (2) 1st's and a young player? That is just unknown.

However, he certainly has more trade value than (1-2) 2nd's and bad contracts. At least for this year, going into his contract year, next year? Probably less than he could get now, all the more reason to trade him now.

[Scoot McGroot]

I think there are teams, that would have an interest in trading for Simons. He only has 2yrs left on his current deal, so the investment should not be an issue for most teams, he is due $25.89mil this year & $27.67mil next year, at which point he will be 27, still well within his prime as a player.

Given the new CBA & judging by the types of deals for players similar to him (6th man\scorer off the bench type), I would anticipate he will likely sign for less than his current salary to another team (not for POR), especially a competitive one, as he wants to win.

Defensive issue aside, he is a very good offensive player 21/22 pts/game LY on 37%/38% 3pt shooting on 9att/game on a high usage rate (28.9), where opposing teams were overwhelmingly focused on him when he was on the floor.

He is worth and should be able to return a 1st round pick at minimum. Now is that what Cronin is asking for? Or is he asking for (2) 1st's and a young player? That is just unknown.

However, he certainly has more trade value than (1-2) 2nd's and bad contracts. At least for this year, going into his contract year, next year? Probably less than he could get now, all the more reason to trade him now.

Why should he be worth a 1st round pick at minimum if you’re also saying he’s MASSIVELY overpaid? If you sign that he will sign in 2026 for less than he’s making now, that would be both a raw paycut in sheer numbers, and even larger paycut as percentage of the cap, as the cap keeps rising?

I hunk he’s worth a borderline first, personally, but you can’t reasonably sell him as both destined to sign for a lower contract (while still in the HEART OF HIS PRIME), AND a good enough contract currently to be worth a 1st, or even 2 1sts and a young player. If we assume he’ll sign for less in a couoke years, teams would probably just wait you out and also not give up a first for a guy that even you view as wildly overpaid?

[wemby]

I think there are teams, that would have an interest in trading for Simons. He only has 2yrs left on his current deal, so the investment should not be an issue for most teams, he is due $25.89mil this year & $27.67mil next year, at which point he will be 27, still well within his prime as a player.

Given the new CBA & judging by the types of deals for players similar to him (6th man\scorer off the bench type), I would anticipate he will likely sign for less than his current salary to another team (not for POR), especially a competitive one, as he wants to win.

Defensive issue aside, he is a very good offensive player 21/22 pts/game LY on 37%/38% 3pt shooting on 9att/game on a high usage rate (28.9), where opposing teams were overwhelmingly focused on him when he was on the floor.

He is worth and should be able to return a 1st round pick at minimum. Now is that what Cronin is asking for? Or is he asking for (2) 1st's and a young player? That is just unknown.

However, he certainly has more trade value than (1-2) 2nd's and bad contracts. At least for this year, going into his contract year, next year? Probably less than he could get now, all the more reason to trade him now.

Man, Blazer fans have their trade value meter completely out of whack.

His skill set and stats are very close to Gary Trent Jr., who just came out of free agency empty handed and had to take a minimum deal from the Bucks (2 million for 1 year).

Why would any team want to give up assets and pay Simons 12x when they could have had a very similar player for a fraction of that? I mean... I like Simons better... but not THAT much better.

[Fitz303]

I think there are teams, that would have an interest in trading for Simons. He only has 2yrs left on his current deal, so the investment should not be an issue for most teams, he is due $25.89mil this year & $27.67mil next year, at which point he will be 27, still well within his prime as a player.

Given the new CBA & judging by the types of deals for players similar to him (6th man\scorer off the bench type), I would anticipate he will likely sign for less than his current salary to another team (not for POR), especially a competitive one, as he wants to win.

Defensive issue aside, he is a very good offensive player 21/22 pts/game LY on 37%/38% 3pt shooting on 9att/game on a high usage rate (28.9), where opposing teams were overwhelmingly focused on him when he was on the floor.

He is worth and should be able to return a 1st round pick at minimum. Now is that what Cronin is asking for? Or is he asking for (2) 1st's and a young player? That is just unknown.

However, he certainly has more trade value than (1-2) 2nd's and bad contracts. At least for this year, going into his contract year, next year? Probably less than he could get now, all the more reason to trade him now.

Man, Blazer fans have their trade value meter completely out of whack.

His skill set and stats are very close to Gary Trent Jr., who just came out of free agency empty handed and had to take a minimum deal from the Bucks (2 million for 1 year).

Why would any team want to give up assets and pay Simons 12x when they could have had a very similar player for a fraction of that? I mean... I like Simons better... but not THAT much better.

As a fan base that had both of those players on the team at the same time, I think almost all Blazers fans would tell you that it's not even close with those 2. It was a no brainer who needed to be traded when they were on the same team, and it hasn't changed. Trent has nowhere near the ability to create and score that Simons does. Truly a horrible comparison

He is THAT much better

[wemby]

As a fan base that had both of those players on the team at the same time, I think almost all Blazers fans would tell you that it's not even close with those 2. It was a no brainer who needed to be traded when they were on the same team, and it hasn't changed. Trent has nowhere near the ability to create and score that Simons does. Truly a horrible comparison

He is THAT much better

I think Simons is better too (better creating but also much worse on defense), but to tell me with a straight face that Simons is 12x better than Trent Jr (or ANYONE else in the league, actually) when they have almost THE EXACT SAME STATS is just flat out laughable.


If Simons was that good, Blazers wouldn't be waiting for anyone to throw them a single first round pick to part with him, plain and simple. Just build around him or, alternatively, come to the realization that no one you want to dump so bad can be that valuable.

[ConSarnit]

I think there are teams, that would have an interest in trading for Simons. He only has 2yrs left on his current deal, so the investment should not be an issue for most teams, he is due $25.89mil this year & $27.67mil next year, at which point he will be 27, still well within his prime as a player.

Given the new CBA & judging by the types of deals for players similar to him (6th man\scorer off the bench type), I would anticipate he will likely sign for less than his current salary to another team (not for POR), especially a competitive one, as he wants to win.

Defensive issue aside, he is a very good offensive player 21/22 pts/game LY on 37%/38% 3pt shooting on 9att/game on a high usage rate (28.9), where opposing teams were overwhelmingly focused on him when he was on the floor.

He is worth and should be able to return a 1st round pick at minimum. Now is that what Cronin is asking for? Or is he asking for (2) 1st's and a young player? That is just unknown.

However, he certainly has more trade value than (1-2) 2nd's and bad contracts. At least for this year, going into his contract year, next year? Probably less than he could get now, all the more reason to trade him now.

Why should he be worth a 1st round pick at minimum if you’re also saying he’s MASSIVELY overpaid? If you sign that he will sign in 2026 for less than he’s making now, that would be both a raw paycut in sheer numbers, and even larger paycut as percentage of the cap, as the cap keeps rising?

I hunk he’s worth a borderline first, personally, but you can’t reasonably sell him as both destined to sign for a lower contract (while still in the HEART OF HIS PRIME), AND a good enough contract currently to be worth a 1st, or even 2 1sts and a young player. If we assume he’ll sign for less in a couoke years, teams would probably just wait you out and also not give up a first for a guy that even you view as wildly overpaid?

I don't get it either. Walton1one says that giving Simons $30m+ on his new deal in 2026/27 would be idiotic. Guess what Simons is making relative to the cap this year? 18.2%. What is 18.2% of the cap in 2026/27: $31m. If Simons is idiotic at $30m+ then his current deal is also idiotic. So how is that worth a 1st?

[BlazersBroncos]

I think its pretty clear us PDX fans are not yet in the acceptance phase of grief when it comes to Simons trade value.

It took Miami fans about 2 years to reach that phase with Herro (Essentially the same player). We will need more time to come to terms with the lack of market for our guy.