Anfernee Simons will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the young Trail Blazers guard is content with his current situation.
Simons, who is enjoying a breakout season, says he has no desire to go anywhere else, according to Ben Pickman of Sports Illustrated.
“I 100% want to stay in Portland,” Simons said. “And I think everybody wants me to stay as well. I think it’s a perfect fit for me.”
Simons, a 2018 first-round pick, played a backup role in his first three seasons. Injuries to CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, and the subsequent trade of McCollum to New Orleans, opened up a starting spot for Simons and he’s thrived under first-year head coach and former NBA point guard Chauncey Billups.
Simons is averaging 17.0 PPG and 3.9 APG in 29.3 MPG for the season. As a starter, he’s averaging 22.0 PPG and 5.8 APG.
The current qualifying offer for Portland to make Simons a restricted free agent is $5,758,551. However, he could meet the starter criteria before the season’s end, which would increase that figure to $7,921,300.
It seems a formality that the Trail Blazers will extend the QO, which would allow them to match any offer sheet to Simons.
He views the McCollum trade as another sign that the front office is keen on re-signing him.
“I have a management that really believes in me and wants to see me succeed and wants me to help them reach a championship level,” the 22-year-old said.
Ppg will dip once Dame comes back but a very solid piece for Portland going forward
I honestly don’t see why he can’t maintain his numbers just by stepping into CJ’s role as their #2, and also at times helping run and initiate their second team’s offense.
Honestly, I think we have yet to see the best of Simons, and I think we could actually continue to see his numbers get even better. I think he can be an excellent two-way scoring guard next to Dame. Then, once the front office can surround Simons, Dame, and Nurkic with some solid 3/D wings and depth then Portland should be right back in the thick of things better than ever.
Obviously, that’s a glass half filled outlook, but I don’t think they are nearly as far off as some people think. Little, Watford, Brown, Winslow, Hart, and Keon Johnson are a fairly good mixture of young and veteran castmates to surround their three studs. They just need to continue and build some better forward depth, and they’ll be back contending in no time..
I think it might be time to move on from Nurk but I agree with pretty much everything else you said
That exact same could have been said, and was said, about the CJM Blazers all these years.
I think his style is a lot more like Lillard’s tho, than CJM’s, so there is even more of a duplication problem, and Lillard is feeling the pressure.
I doubt Lillard stays. Josh Hart + Simons for the future.
Dude is 22 and shooting almost 10 3s per 36 at 40% for 2 years running. Technically he shouldn’t be taking a back seat to anyone.
Be interesting to see what his extension looks like. Heaps of potential but not very tested. He’s been balling recently and will get a bag but can he keep it up once dame is back and for the future seasons.
He’s been tested vs NBA guards for the past 3seasons. At some point you guys have to take a moment to look inward & think about why you’re first instinct is ALWAYS to doubt & hate on these guys. Instead of living by MAGA principles of hating anyone that isn’t white, start living by SMET principles (Stop Making Earth Toxic)
Not my first instinct at all and all that other garbage you saying I’m not even going to acknowledge.
But just for reference let’s compare Simons to say Sexton. Both entered the league the same year, both need new contracts this offseason and Sexton has missed almost a full season to injury.
Simons:
average stat line 10-2-2-0.4-0.1
career totals 2079-451-407-74-24
Games 208
Sexton:
average stat line 20-3-3-0.8-0.1
career totals 4356-663-720-181-23
Games 218
Shooting percentages are basically the same, Sexton slightly better from the field, Simons slightly better from 3 and both good at FT’s.
Sexton in the same amount of years in the league and basically the same amount of games has basically double all of Simons stats. Not to say he is better or anything at all but he’s way more proven that’s a fact. Simons has only started in 32 games for his career.
Now when thinking ahead to their next contract, obviously the big injury is a negative but Sexton should definitely earn more than Simons by a good amount. Sexton was a fringe all star, with multiple seasons as a starter, multiple seasons putting up points and showing his skills. Simons has been a promising back up most his career and now has exploded for 25 odd games as a starter.
If Portland keeps Dame they’re dumber than I thought. Paying any over 30 athletic guard with an injury problem over 50 million a season till he’s 36 or more will destroy the near future of the franchise.
Just like it destroyed Phoenix with Paul & Nash right?
Neither are athletic types. Dame relies on his athleticism and needs to score. Those guys have higher IQs and can help their teams in other ways.
He can also score from the logo.
yeah they should have got Simmons. is there even any good trade targets for him next year
It’s been made pretty clear that Dame won’t be getting traded anytime soon. But if something changes & he decides that he wants to leave there will obviously be many “good trade targets” out there for h
This is the same team which chose Bowie over MJ and Greg Oden over KD.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they made some more bad decisions. However I think your right that the best decision would be is to trade Dame and go full rebuild.
It’s been made pretty clear that Dame won’t be getting traded anytime soon. But if something changes & he decides that he wants to leave there will obviously be many “good trade targets” out there for him
Sankara gets dumb when he gets into race. Too bad. Missed on ElDon too. He indicates himself that race distorts analysis, but does not think that applies to himself… despite finding comfort in racial similarity.
Lebron is someone who gets emotionally evaluated… Colt-legged Simons, happy to be there, is not. But he is living a kid’s dream.
This “its been made clear Lillard is not moving”… Ha.
I hate that phrase. “A breakout season.” Stop saying it. What does that even mean? He was a first-round draft choice. He’s playing far more minutes, so of course his numbers were going to increase. Just type that a guy has received far more minutes because of backcourt injuries and leave the dopey cliches at the door.