The Portland Trail Blazers have gone through a reorganization of their roster over the past couple of years. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the Trail Blazers have been part of six trades that sent Josh Hart, CJ McCollum, Gary Payton II, and Norman Powell, among others, out of the Rose City. Will Anfernee Simons or Shaedon Sharpe be next?
Portland is coming off a 33-49 campaign. The Trail Blazers posted the second-worst record in the league following the trade deadline, as they won just six times in 27 games. The Blazers were outscored by an NBA-worst 12.7 points a contest during the stretch run.
The Trail Blazers had many issues this past season. Injuries — Sharpe and Drew Eubanks were the only players to appear in 64 games — and lack of overall talent are the most obvious. Rebounding, playmaking, turnovers, and defense were also major issues.
NBA Rumors: Potential Portland Trail Blazers Backcourt Shakeup, Could Anfernee Simons or Shaeden Sharpe Be Traded?
How does Portland turn things around while keeping star guard Damian Lillard happy? The most straightforward answer seems to improve the team at shooting guard, which has been a positional problem for the Trail Blazers for years. The Blazers’ shooting guard ranked in the bottom third of the league in efficiency.
Simons, Matisse Thybulle, and Sharpe accounted for most of the minutes at shooting guard this past season. While Simons, Sharpe, and Thybulle remain possibilities as a starter at the two, the Blazers could also make a trade.
Simons and Sharpe are incredibly talented youngsters. However, those two are different types of players, and neither may be a perfect fit to play alongside Lillard. Simons is on the small side at 6-3, particularly when paired with the 6-2 Lillard, while Sharpe struggled mightily on the defensive end. Thybulle, who will be a restricted free agent, is known for his defensive abilities.
Head Coach Chauncey Billups, speaking to Aaron Frentess of the Oregonian, said he wasn’t sure whether the Blazers would enter next season with Sharpe and Simons on the roster.
“Those two guys are really, really good young players in this league, and I’m pretty sure they have a ton of value everywhere. So, I don’t know the answer to that question. But we’ll see.”
Anfernee Simons
Simons has taken a step in his development in each of his NBA seasons since being drafted with the 24th overall selection in 2018. The 23-year-old is an electric scorer who also can be a playmaker though he is a little inconsistent. The athletic 23-year-old is at his best when attacking though he is a capable shooter off the catch. Simons had a career season last year, his first as a starter, averaging 22.1 points and 4.1 assists. He produced a shooting slash line of .447/.397/.894. Defense is an issue for Simons.
Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe showed his enormous potential as a 19-year-old rookie last year. He is a three-level scorer, an outstanding finisher at the rim, and an excellent shooter overall. However, he provided very little else, and his mistakes were enormous. Sharpe, who topped the 20-point mark eight times, averaged 9.9 points and 3.0 caroms a game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 36.0% from the 3-point line.
Matisse Thybulle
Thybulle is known as a shutdown wing defender who is a nonfactor offensively. However, the 26-year did produce a career-best 7.4 points and 1.5 treys at a 38.8% clip in 22 appearances with the Blazers this past season. He grabbed 3.5 boards and doled out 1.4 assists, both career bests during his short stint in the Rose City. Thybulle has a cap hold of $13 million as a restricted free agent.
Analysis
It would be shocking if Simons, Sharpe, and Thybulle all start the season on the roster. Thybulle is the least likely of the trio to return, as he is a restricted free agent.
There are several different avenues the Trail Blazers could take here. It is too early to give up on the youngsters, especially considering Lillard could finally get fed up and ask to be traded at the trade deadline.
The best option is to trade for a starting shooting guard while keeping Sharpe and Simons. Simons would then back up both guard positions. Sharpe would come off the bench as the second reserve guard and the primary backup at small forward. Sharpe is not ready to be a full-time starter on a playoff contender.
Possible Trade Options While Keeping Simons and Sharpe
The Blazers do not lack players with talent. A trade package (for example) of Jusuf Nurkic, Keon Johnson, Nassir Little, and either the No. 5 or No. 23 pick in the 2023 draft could net a solid starting shooting guard. They also own their first-round selections from 2024 on.
The following are some shooting guards options that Portland could nab in a trade. Spencer Dinwiddie, Bradley Beal, and Jordan Clarkson are some potential options. Gary Trent Jr., Tyler Herro, Buddy Hield, Jordan Poole, and Zach LaVine also may be made available. LaVine and Beal are the longest shots.
Most of those named won’t take the entire package unless the Blazers get several players/draft picks in return. Beal and LaVine are the most intriguing. Perhaps, they could be had if their current teams decide to go in a different direction.
