Skybox wrote:
You have to work really hard to not see how much Simons would ADD to our offense.
He's a better ball handler and distributor than Suggs and his 3pt shooting is otherworldly...he's not Kennard or Hield or Houstan standing in the corner waving "I'm open". He can put the ball on the floor, elevate in traffic, etc...he can score in many ways and he can initiate the offense.
He'd improve the offense but to another level? That's not what I get from his production and fit with team. he's a SCORE FIRST guard who will get his first before getting others involved. He's the main facilitator but only averages 4-5 assist a game. Especially for someone who supposed to get everyone involved that's not great numbers. And you can't say he doesn't have good options because he does have decent scoring options around him.
I definitely see the 3 point shooting benefits. But that doesn't take into the affect what he'd give up defensively which is what I'll get into later.
Skybox wrote:Paolo and Franz are the primary initiators for now and maybe the future, but 3 legit threats is better than 2, if you want to be a serious team to deal with. Why would anyone think that a guy who can curl around picks and pull up couldn't also knock down open spot up 3's with his eyes closed? He can do as much or as little is necessary on a given night. If he becomes the 2nd option - great. Franz is fantastic - he could be the best young 3rd option in the league. His drive and eurostep game is unstoppable at times, but not something you can pull on every defender every night. Stop thinking you need to "protect" our children from more talent. Paolo and Franz will be better for it. Fultz, for example, NEEDS the ball to be effective...Simons can score on you in many scenarios-that's helpful, not a "concern".
We just saw Paolo at the beginning of the season struggle off ball. Though I want him to be a much better off-ball player when it comes to rolling to the rim. Spotting up for 3s and cutting to the rim more. It's just clearly obvious that in order for him to be his most effective he needs that ball in his hands most of the time when he's on the court. I get Simons can spread the court and we can stagger lineups. But I don't want to put him in that Maxey position (When he was playing with Harden last year) where he doesn't get the reign that he should get with 2 other ball-dominate guys.
Also, you'll see it historically where the 3rd Guy is always playing off ball the most. Curry/Durant/Thompson. Thompson fit perfectly because he is literally one of the greatest off ball shooters of all-time. Someone mentioned Garnett/Pierce/Allen. Allen just waited off corners and curled off screens and again was one of the greatest off ball shooters of all-time. Hell, you look at the James/Wade/Bosh era with the Heat. Bosh who was one of the best offensive players in Toronto was forced to be more of a spot up shooter/perimeter player. Same thing with Cavs with James/Irving/Love, when love was forced to play the spot up 3 point shooter more compared to when he worked with the Timberwolves.
But you know the commonality for all those 3rd options that made their team successful and made their teams more dangerous? Their 3rd guy was a really good defender or developed into a really good defender to make those teams successful on the defensive end. Outside of Kevin Love, everyone else was able to pick up the slack defensively to turn those teams into premier defenses in the league. I look at Simons and I see a one way player who could cripple the Magic's defensive scheme that they rely upon
Skybox wrote:Moving Sharpe to SF to accommodate Scoot and Simons is compromising all of their strengths. Sharpe goes from being a super long and freakishly athletic SG to being average sized. A Scoot/Simons backcourt will give them Dame/CJ flashbacks - but compounded without Dame's shooting. It's all about fit at this point - for both teams.
There is a chance Scoot doesn't turn into a Star player and they move on from him and choose Simons. As I mentioned I see no rush for the Trail-Blazers to just trade him away because they drafted Scoot. They have 2-3 more years to figure it out. And right now Simons has the edge.
Also, on top of that if there were to trade for Simons. A very talented Offensive player no less where the Magic would have to give up some pretty good assets. Suggs would definitely be their target and multiple assets like Wendell/Jett and draft picks would be put in the conversation as well. I don't see a world where we just give up Wendell (When they already have Ayton) and they're satisfied with that sort of trade scenario. And at that point the Magic would probably not even do such a deal given Suggs 2-Way ability.
Skybox wrote:As far as defense, we'll be fine. He's very long for his average height and he's an elite athlete. As Audi said, I'd rather task Mose with working out a team defensive scheme, given this roster, than continue to count on our existing guards to consistently hit 3's. We saw the other night what it looks like when we kill teams inside AND out. We also saw the same team lose a game in PHO because they couldn't reliably hit wide open "I dare you to shoot" 3's. Maybe Houstan and Suggs become nearly the 3pt threat that Simons has already established himself to be...we'd be that much more dangerous if so.
He's a elite athlete but that doesn't mean he'll be a good defender. I've mentioned Zach LaVine he's an elite athlete but a garbage defender. Samething with Jalen Green. He's an elite athlete who is a terrible defender. There's a lot more to defense than being an athlete. Simons is a guy who is likely never to be even a decent defender from how he plays defense.
Also, like I mentioned before with how the Magic run guards who hound perimeter players from getting into the paint and getting to their spots off pick and roles. I cannot see Simons ever being successful at doing that effectively. And that's the strength of the Magic's elite defense.
I'm just more personally at adding an off-ball shooter/scorer who plays average-to-good defense like a Gary Trent Jr or Annonoby who space the floor and create their own shots from time to time without compromising the strength/flexibility of the bench. I think the Magic would be more successful with that rather than having to trade for a guy whilst makes you a better offensive team but pushes you back defensively whilst also having to lose a few other depth guys that you have.
He really could be the next Poole.
