Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Some fans seem keen to see the young guard moved at the deadline. Here’s why it shouldn’t happen.
Last week I wrote a column highlighting the need for the Portland Trail Blazers to trade Jusuf Nurkic. Oddly, the piece elicited more thoughts about moving Anfernee Simons than the big Bosnian.
It was fascinating to read all the emotive and unambiguous comments. But unfortunately, none of them were enough to change my mind.
My stance was reinforced this week, when Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report noted the team might see an upgrade at center as its priority.
Over the past few days, I’ve had a think about the comments and why some might be laboring under misconceptions, overlooking three key points pertaining to the 23-year-old:
The Blazers front office is not necessarily building for this season — there’s a bigger picture.
Anfernee Simons is not CJ McCollum.
Anfernee Simons, 23, has played fewer than 30 games starting alongside Damian Lillard.
I’ll touch on each of these points and why Simons needs to remain where he is for the time being.
Building for the long-term
With last February’s partial tear-down of Portland’s roster, a new timeline was put in place. Crucial to this debate, Norman Powell and CJ McCollum were traded away to “create a runway” for Simons to reach his potential.
The Blazers — in consultation with Damian Lillard (see below) — required time to properly re-tool this team, undoing questionable moves made by the previous front office, using their newfound assets and flexibility.
It was clear to most that there was little way Portland was going to be in a position to contend through 2022-23. There were trade exceptions to use, assets to develop, other stars to become disenchanted and draft picks to come to fruition. Shaedon Sharpe, Jabari Walker, Keon Johnson, Greg Brown III and Trendon Watford all needed time to develop.
As we stand here on January 7, 2023, the Blazers are not a finished product. Far from it. This is despite the fact that Lillard is 32, with the number of prime games in his back pocket, dwindling by the day.
Yes, the Blazers are living in two timelines. But anyone who thinks it’s 2022-23 or bust, needs to suppress the need for instant gratification, if it’s only for the sake of their own sanity.
Cronin has acknowledged the holes in this team. He is fully aware of the lack of height behind Jusuf Nurkic and no clear answer at starting small forward. It wasn’t done out of any negligence and I believe it wasn’t out of a lack of trying.
Of the many things that became increasingly frustrating living under Neil Olshey was the annual roster construction, using cheap parts that didn’t fit. It was a flawed strategy that prevented the team from progressing.
But let’s actually look at what Cronin told Danny Marang and Brandon Sprague on the Jacked Ramsay’s podcast in October.
“You know, we’re trying to build, this isn’t a win-now roster as far as, we haven’t pushed in all of our chips yet. We weren’t signing players based on position over talent. We’ve been choosing talent over need, basically throughout this whole process.”
“We knew there’d be some positional redundancies and some positional holes and we’re OK working through that because we’re trying to build our talent base, trying to build this culture we’ve been talking about. And also we haven’t pushed all of our chips in as far as, we haven’t made a big move yet, like using future draft capital or anything like that.”
“And this comes with a lot of discussion with Damian about trust in where we’re heading and trust in what Chauncey and I are telling him.”
Yes, he gave Nurkic a larg-ish contract last season — arguably more than he deserved. But, to me, the rationale for this was helping match salary once they had targeted the “push the chips” player they wanted when he becomes available.
Anfernee Simons is not CJ McCollum
A number of comments suggested that Simons was a carbon copy of CJ McCollum and would consequently yield the same results when paired with Lillard.
While it’s easy to label Simons as just another McCollum-like guard, it’s not entirely accurate. Before we get onto the pair as players, Simons' contract ($22,321,429 this season) is still considerably smaller than McCollum’s ($33,333,333 this season). This alone allows the team to improve the roster in ways that CJ never could.
Defense
Defense is the obvious concern with Simons’ game.
Let’s start with physical attributes. Wikipedia lists Simons at 6’3. He’s not, he’s openly said he’s not sure how tall he is now. I’d suggest he’s closer to 6’5.
Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Not convinced? Let’s see him next to 6’5 Josh Hart.
Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images
One more next to 6’3 McCollum. And this one is a little older, he might have shot up over the past few months. He’s also got an extra inch on McCollum when it comes to wingspan.
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Athletically, Ant and CJ are in completely different ball parks. McCollum rarely gets to up for dunks, Simons is a Slam Dunk champion, helped along by a 41.5 inch vertical leap — McCollum’s was 38.5 inches.
Simons has the physical attributes to be a decent defender. At 23, he has at least another year or two of playing starter-level minutes to get there.
I’ll just point out something that caught my eye during last week’s win against the Detroit Pistons. While the Pistons are far from an offensive juggernaut, there was one defensive play where Simons stayed with and stopped a savvy veteran 6’7, 226lb Bojan Bogdanovic from getting to the rim, altering his shot. Simons, of course, has to do this on regular basis, but the ability is there.
Yes, it’s clear that Simons isn’t a good defender at the moment. But he’s shown glimpses of ability and length that McCollum never could. He’s 23 — a year older than McCollum was when he entered the league, but a year younger than McCollum was when he started playing starter-level minutes in 2015-16.
Offense
Obviously, we’re dealing with a guy in his tenth year vs. a guy in his fifth so this is not an exact science, but ...
Simons is not the ball stopper McCollum is. I don’t begrudge McCollum for this; it's worked for a long time. But during his Portland tenure, the ball rarely left CJ’s hands unless he was shooting. Simons is a willing passer. If you don’t believe me, hear it from Lillard himself on Media Day.
With me and CJ, we could score a lot of points, CJ, he’d get the ball, he’s crafty with the ball, you knew you could count on CJ to get 20-25.
I think because he (Simons) was so young and he was watching it every game for his first couple of years in the league, I think kind of he adopted that mentality as an NBA player. He’s already that kind of person that is unselfish, he sees the game the right way and I think because of that, because of who he is, because of him being my rook and him developing as my teammate, it’ll be like two of us out there basically. He can get to spots, he can score really well but Ant is going to make the right play and if he gets going, he’s going to get going but I know that he’s going to have the same type of mentality that I have so it will allow me to be on the ball sometimes, him to be on the ball sometimes, but it won’t look like my turn, his turn. It’ll be more movement, more action, the ball will hop around more so I think that’ll be the difference.”
This is also probably a factor in the team’s high turnover rate through the early part of this season. But if they can work these kinks out, the team looks markedly better.
Despite McCollum sharing the court with Zion Williamson, and for lesser periods Brandon Ingram, he’s still getting about 18 shots a game — the same as Simons. However, the younger guard is registering 22.2 points over McCollum’ 20.0 points.
Simons shoots more from three. Through 36 games, the 23-year-old takes 44 percent, or 8.0 attempts, from two, hitting 51 percent of them. From beyond the arc, he’s attempting 56 percent or 10.1 shots, which is pretty impressive, given he’s still making 38 percent of them, despite experiencing some relatively ordinary nights thus far.
For McCollum this season, the majority of shots come from within the arc at 60 percent or 10.7 attempts, with 44 percent dropping. From long-range, of his 40 percent, or 7.2 attempts, McCollum is logging a decent 39 percent.
But despite McCollum’s penchant for two-pointers, Simons is still getting closer to the rim more, taking 3.0 shots within three feet, compared to McCollum’s 2.5.
Simons’ more versatile bag of athletic tricks also poses trickier questions to opposing defenses, and with those superior physical gifts can wind his way and contort his body into a wider range of positions, particularly as he increases his attempts at the rim.
Simons and Lillard need time
Like my first point, fans need to slow down and not expect instant gratification. The recent losses have been incredibly frustrating, but I'm not too concerned about this team, this season.
If they make the playoffs, great. But I’d much rather the Blazers use the assets they now have to build and maintain flexibility in the hope of building a squad that actually has a chance in the playoffs.
Simons and Lillard have started fewer than 30 games together. And while some of you might say, “So what, they’ve been teammates for more than four years”, I’d say this team looks decently different to previous seasons. The starting backcourt needs to be given the same time to mesh as its predecessor had.
Yes, Lillard is 32, but the team has already been more conservative with his workload, preserving his body. Dame is playing a career-low 35.4 minutes a game. He’s suffered two relatively minor calf injuries, which have kept him out for a dozen games and reportedly, the team sat him a little longer than they would have previously.
Why? Because the guy is earning $63 million four years from now and they want him to stay on the court, so he and Simons can get the best out of each other for as long as possible.
I’ll repeat the above, Simons is 23, a year younger than McCollum was when he was thrust into a starting role next to Lillard. The pair need time to acclimate and work out each other’s rhythms. If there are still issues 12 months from now, then we can start to worry.
Conclusion
This team moved CJ McCollum and Norman Powell to make way for Anfernee Simons. Why, oh why, would you move him three months into his first season as a starter, with all the potential he brings to the table?
Jusuf Nurkic, 28, has been in Portland six years and while there’ve been many highs, there’s been a heck of a lot of frustration as well. Simons is just scratching the surface of both his basketball and athletic gifts. But he also needs time with Lillard, he needs time for Cronin to improve this roster and he needs time to continue proving he’s not just another CJ McCollum.
Adrian Bernecich
https://www.blazersedge.com/2023/1/7/23536470/anfernee-simons-portland-trail-blazers-trade-deadline-jusuf-nurkic-damian-lillard-cj-mccollum
By: Adrian Bernecich
Title: Why the Blazers Should Not Trade Anfernee Simons
Sourced From: www.blazersedge.com/2023/1/7/23536470/anfernee-simons-portland-trail-blazers-trade-deadline-jusuf-nurkic-damian-lillard-cj-mccollum
Published Date: 01-07-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hybrid contract in NBA?
A hybrid contract in the NBA allows teams to offer players higher salaries than they would have been able to otherwise. These contracts count a part of the salary against the team's limit, while the rest is paid directly to players as a bonus. This allows teams the ability to offer higher salaries and still be able to meet league salary restrictions. The players are more likely to choose to sign with specific teams because they will be able make significantly more than they would otherwise.
What rivalry does the NBA have?
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers hold the title of the biggest rivalry in the NBA.
The NBA Finals has seen 12 meetings between the Boston Celtics (with 9 wins) and the Los Angeles Lakers (12 wins). The Celtics have won nine out of the 12 meetings. Their first meeting was in 1959, but they both continued to excel in the following years, especially during the 1960s and 1980s, when they would face each other six times and three, respectively. Even though 2000 was the new millennium in many ways, they still met twice each year.
Which is the greatest NBA team?
The answer to this question can be subjective and will likely remain a topic of debate for years. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have the most NBA championships, with 17 titles. The Chicago Bulls had their heyday in the 1990s when they won six titles under Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson. The San Antonio Spurs have won five titles since 1999. In the same decade, the Golden State Warriors has won four. Other notable NBA teams are the Philadelphia 76ers, Kobe Shaq Lakers, and LeBron Jam's Miami Heat, who won back-to–back championships for 2012 and 2013.
What is a buyout within the NBA?
A buyout agreement in the NBA is between a club and a player. This agreement allows the team to pay the remainder of the contract amount the player was entitled. This allows players to become free agents and sign with any other team in the league as soon as their buyout is complete. It allows teams to trim salaries or alter their roster composition as needed.
How much are players paid in NBA?
The NBA's average salary was $7.3million during the 2021-2022 season. This figure is based the maximum salary cap of $134million, which was set in this season. The individual salaries of players can vary depending on their accomplishments and experience.
Superstar players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant can earn up to $40 million a year, while rookies may make as little as the minimum salary of $898,310. Other veteran players could be eligible for exception salaries that range from $4.76million to $9.258million, depending on how many years they have been playing. In addition, players can earn bonuses and other incentives through their teams depending on their team's performance.
Who scored the first basket in the NBA?
Ossie Schectman was an American professional basketball player who scored the first basket in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which would later become the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was scored in a match between the New York Knickerbockers and the Toronto Huskies on November 1, 1946. Schectman's historic first basket was the opening of the inaugural season for BAA.
What year did Bill Russell pass?
"The great ones play when it counts most" -Bill Russell
Legends last forever. A legend dies when he stops playing.
But for those few moments, the greatest basketball player gave us a glimpse of his greatness.
Russell was born in February 1934 and died on July 31, 2022. He won 11 championships with the Boston Celtics in only 13 seasons.
Bill Russell won five MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections. He was inducted into The Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a remarkable leader and defender, who ignited the game's passion for winning.
He turned the Celtics into one of the most successful dynasties in sports, from a weak team to one that was exemplary. He was unselfish and a strong competitor who encouraged his teammates to achieve their full potential.
Russell has inspired generations of players, coaches, and fans alike. His legacy will never fade.
Bill Russell, Rest in Peace. You will always be remembered as one the greatest basketball players.
Statistics
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Team Will Participate In the Victor Wembanyama Tathon?
- News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
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- NBA Free Agency Preview: Biggest Questions And Rumors
- Free From Quarantine: The NBA Bubble Is A Unique Experience
How To
How an NBA Getty Images photographer captures the perfect shot
This article will explain how a NBA Getty Images photojournalist can capture the perfect shot. The first step is selecting the right location. Next, you must choose the best angle from which to shoot your photo. Finally, you must anticipate what might happen next.
- Step 1 - Selecting the Right Place
To get the most out of any photograph, select the right place and time to take the picture. If you have too many people around you, it is possible to lose the moment in case something happens during exposure. People blocking your view is another reason to avoid taking pictures.
Once you have found a good spot for your camera, begin snapping away. It is always easier to get closer to the action than to go further back.
- Step2: Choose the Best Angle
After finding the best location, you need to consider the camera angle. This is the second most important thing to consider when shooting a great image.
Position yourself so that you can see clearly the subject matter and not get in the way of what is happening. If you want to catch a ball player making a layup, try looking through the basket. This will give you a tight frame and eliminate any obstructions.
Next, look for interesting angles. You should look for angles that show something different about the athlete. While a low angle will show his height, a high angle will showcase his athleticism.
Frames are the last thing you should think about. Framing means arranging things in a frame relative to one another. When choosing the best composition, balance the foreground (what is nearest to the lens), with the background.
- Step 3: Anticipating the Next Event
Think ahead. Always be on the lookout for unusual situations, such as someone diving into the lanes or a ball rolling towards he rim. You need to be ready to quickly react. Do not hesitate in calling out "action", or "cut."
When you hear those words, freeze the scene. After that, wait for the action in order to move forward. When you press the shutter, you will have sharp focus.
You'll always get the best shot by following these steps. With patience and practice you will master your skills as a NBA Getty Images Photographer and create stunning photos that will last for a lifetime.
