What’s Anfernee Simon’s potential?

[BlazersBroncos]

I’d love for Orlando to make a run for him this off-season. He’s a local guy too.

Would they really do that with Suggs, Fultz, Hampton, Anthony and even Ross at the 1/2?

[Soulyss]

Ant has been averaging 21.6/2.8/6.4 (pts/reb/ast) as a starter while being the primary guy to stop for the Blazers. He's a +5.1 during that time on 34mpg. He's been trending this way since about the last two months of last year, so this doesn't feel fluke-y rather opportunity created by injury because of the veterans in front of him.

The defensive side of the ball has really changed this year.

I don't see Portland giving him up. I think Portland tries to move both Powell AND CJ, and make Simons the starting SG alongside Lillard.

[DusterBuster]

I’d love for Orlando to make a run for him this off-season. He’s a local guy too.

Would they really do that with Suggs, Fultz, Hampton, Anthony and even Ross at the 1/2?

They’re pretty desperate for a player with some star level possibility. None of the guys listed have that. I won’t be surprised if they make a run at Simons, but I don’t see Portland not matching him.

[Viper1500]

I’d love for Orlando to make a run for him this off-season. He’s a local guy too.

Would they really do that with Suggs, Fultz, Hampton, Anthony and even Ross at the 1/2?

They’re pretty desperate for a player with some star level possibility. None of the guys listed have that. I won’t be surprised if they make a run at Simons, but I don’t see Portland not matching him.

Imo, Sugg's is the only one with "star" potential. Cole Anthony is at best a Collin Sexton 2.0. Fultz can be a solid guard off the bench but his "#1 draft pick" tag is long gone. Plus, magic are loaded on PG's, no true SG.

[Madhouse]

he is good on offense, bad on defense.

Unless he turns around his defense, he is a slightly positive impact player.

He is still only 22 so maybe he takes more steps but right now giving him the max would be a big mistake.

You literally couldn’t be more wrong about his defense if you tried.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

The Blazers are a better defensive team when he’s on the floor and he’s second only to Nurkic in that category.

Maybe research before you hot take there guy.

DPM -2.3
defensive EPM -2.2
defensive Raptor -2.4

Are you seriously trying to argue that he is not a good defender? wtf

[BlazersBroncos]

he is good on offense, bad on defense.

Unless he turns around his defense, he is a slightly positive impact player.

He is still only 22 so maybe he takes more steps but right now giving him the max would be a big mistake.

You literally couldn’t be more wrong about his defense if you tried.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

The Blazers are a better defensive team when he’s on the floor and he’s second only to Nurkic in that category.

Maybe research before you hot take there guy.

DPM -2.3
defensive EPM -2.2
defensive Raptor -2.4

Are you seriously trying to argue that he is not a good defender? wtf

Ya there isn’t much argument that he is a good defender. That PNR twitter stat is the only advanced metric I have ever seen grading him positive.

[Blazer1776]

Portland is 16th in DRTG over the last 10 games, prior to holding one of the best offenses in the NBA to 105 tonight. That is a substantial improvement.

Portland is getting better in defense and ANT improving has been a huge part of that. Billups is changing the defensive culture. However, I understand the sample size. It will be an interesting trend to follow over the course of the season.

Simons was one of the worst defensive players in the NBA last year. The fact that he is in the top 5 of any defensive metric shows that he is improving. He still has a ways to go though.

[johanliebert]

Nerds think every guard should be an elite 2 way player. Focus on the kids strengths.

[monopoman]

Nerds think every guard should be an elite 2 way player. Focus on the kids strengths.

Well it's also ridiculous when so few guards are great defenders especially when looking at great guards in the league, I can think of like 3 or 4 that I would claim are great defenders that are anywhere close to all-stars offensively.

Guard defense is also from what we see the least important part of defense on a team, if you take Simons and pair him with a larger SG that plays great defense he would look much better on that end.

[LAL1947]

FiveThirtyEight's projection says Anfernee will be an "offensive specialist", with a 5-yr market value of only $20.6m.

By comparison, Jalen Brunson's projection pegs him as a rotation player, but with a 5-yr market value of $63.6m.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/anfernee-simons/
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/jalen-brunson/

[bearadonisdna]

FiveThirtyEight's projection says Anfernee will be an "offensive specialist", with a 5-yr market value of only $20.6m.

By comparison, Jalen Brunson's projection pegs him as a rotation player, but with a 5-yr market value of $63.6m.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/anfernee-simons/
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/jalen-brunson/

More like 20m per year .

[bearadonisdna]

For perspective I think this kid is real ,
Just picked him up and he is my backup point guard in front of good guards like Conley , maxey , Seth Curry.
Am totally objective , am not a blazers fan and I think he is currently playing the best of my stable of backup pointguards .

Of course it’s just fantasy but it’s a different and real perspective on value .

[monopoman]

FiveThirtyEight's projection says Anfernee will be an "offensive specialist", with a 5-yr market value of only $20.6m.

By comparison, Jalen Brunson's projection pegs him as a rotation player, but with a 5-yr market value of $63.6m.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/anfernee-simons/
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-player-projections/jalen-brunson/

I have a feeling these numbers were done before the season, or they aren't looking at just games where he has started with Dame out. Dude lost his Grandpa a few weeks ago and has been balling even despite that.

[LukaTheGOAT]

No.

Roy was on track to be a superstar with a dynamite handle, no holes in his game and the clutch gene.

Simons can barely dribble and can’t run an offense.

He can shoot though.

Saying Simons can barely dribble is so disrespectful and wrong.

I’ve watched most of his games since he was drafted and it’s really not.

He is at his best when someone else brings the ball up and gets him shots, though he can manufacture shots off the dribble and has a quick release.

He gets into trouble when he tries to play point, as his iffy handle is a serious weakness and his athleticism does not seem to have much in-game impact.

That’s as charitable as I can be. Any team trying to run him as lead guard is going to lose a lot of games.

I don't think he would be the most single efficient scorer in pick and roll in the league if he could barely dribble, but to each their own

Watch on YouTube

[Roy The Natural]

No.

Roy was on track to be a superstar with a dynamite handle, no holes in his game and the clutch gene.

Simons can barely dribble and can’t run an offense.

He can shoot though.

Saying Simons can barely dribble is so disrespectful and wrong.

I’ve watched most of his games since he was drafted and it’s really not.

He is at his best when someone else brings the ball up and gets him shots, though he can manufacture shots off the dribble and has a quick release.

He gets into trouble when he tries to play point, as his iffy handle is a serious weakness and his athleticism does not seem to have much in-game impact.

That’s as charitable as I can be. Any team trying to run him as lead guard is going to lose a lot of games.

Your wrong though... very wrong. He's not Kyrie with the ball, but his handles are fine. His real issue currently has more to do with strength and his first step. For all his open court speed, he doesn't have an explosive first step. He also still gets manhandled to easily.

However, he's dynamite in the P&R and is likely to continue that trend. I'd also argue that if he remains developing he has another leap in him. His shooting already is what it is... VERY good. He also has a spectacular floater game. I'd wager with a couple of more years of development he's likely to figure out getting to the rim more and finishing there.

As someone else said, he has a lot of young Lillard in his game. I don't think Simons will ever be a guy that kills you in isolation. However, he looks the part of a lead guard in the P&R.

[monopoman]

When the barrier for entry to be a good passing guard is Kyrie it's obvious they are being completely disingenuous.

That's like claiming that since Clyde Drexler wasn't as good as Jordan he was trash. Kyrie isn't a Jordan level player but he has a very smooth game, and people give him ****, because he is a huge head case that can cause a lot of issues on a team outside of his abilities in the game.