Could Anfernee Simons solve the Magic‘s offensive issues? According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Trail Blazers guard has been increasingly projected around the league as a potential target for Orlando.
President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman indicated in a postseason press conference that upgrades this offseason would likely come via trades.
“Most of our roster upgrades are going to have to come more through swapping than just adding,” Weltman said. “The reason we’ve been a good team the last couple of years — and I do believe we are a good team — is because we’ve got an elite defensive backbone. And as as we look to improve our offense, we have to be very cognizant of not unraveling the DNA of our team. That’s what we have to balance this summer.”
Orlando had the league’s worst three-point percentage and Weltman vowed to address that problem, as well as others.
“What we need is proven shot-making, proven offensive play, someone that’s going to come in and help augment our weakness,” Weltman said. “Clearly, we need to get better offensively. Clearly, we need to shoot the ball better. Those are the goals and that’s the lens we need to look at as we enter the offseason. I don’t think anything’s off the table. Veteran help, proven offensive help is what we’re going to be looking for.”
Simons made 70 starts for the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. He shot 42.6% overall and 36.3% from beyond the three-point arc. Simons is entering his walk year and will make $27.7MM next season.
Simons was believed to be one of the players the Blazers were willing to move prior to this season’s trade deadline. However, general manager Joe Cronin didn’t find a suitable offer.
Orlando seemingly made a major upgrade on the wing last offseason by signing free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The former Nugget had a disappointing season with the Magic, averaging 8.7 points in 29.6 minutes per game while making 77 starts. His three-point percentage was a subpar 34.2%, his worst since the 2015/16 season. KCP made over 40% of his long-range attempts in his previous two seasons with Denver.
Losing Jalen Suggs after he played just 35 games was a major blow. Suggs averaged 16.2 points per game before he underwent season-ending surgery but Weltman’s comments indicated that Suggs’ return alone won’t put Orlando over the hump.
Yep a legit 6th man type whi can score would be good for Orlando.
Makes sense! He can put the put the ball in the hoop, which is obviously the Magic’s biggest weakness. It’s a great fit. I wonder what they’ll have to give up.
Yes, Simons is a SG; will definitely create space and does not need the ball in his hands. Hopefully Portland can get Ayton into the deal and pick up Suggs (also a SG). His contract balloons to $35m next year but is on a declining schedule which works great for Portland. If you get Ayton in there, he improves ORL on pretty much all metrics over Wendell Carter Jr except outside shooting. Outside shooting is what ORL needs, so would be the best reason to NOT pick Ayton up, but if Simons is there, it seems workable.
Simons makes sense as a sixth man with KCP starting and playing off the wood with Anthony Black. Be interesting to see what their asking price is as he is on an expiring deal.
I still think Zach LaVine would be a much better guy to go after. He’s a legit 25 points per game scorer, he’s better from 3 (roughly 40% over his career) and better from the field (roughly 50% over his career). Sacramento look likely for a rebuild and have already said they will look to move him. Someone with that athleticism from the wing and that skillset would remind me of Tracy McGrady.
Give up Issac, Anthony, Howard and the 16th overall pick.
Suggs LaVine Franz Paolo Wendell
Black KCP Da Silva Mo Wagner/Goga
Zach need ball in his hand,not a good pair for franz and paolo. And he has big contrack too. Huerter better option than zach.
The whole point of this thing is Orlando wants to add a third star/option whatever to Franz and Paolo who can shoot the ball.
Simons, Zach, whoever it is will take touches away from those two, but with their ability to shoot it should create more space for them inside the arc also among a number of things which actually help the Magic.
Hueter is a terrible option he’s just a shooter. If they wanted just a sniper they’d give more minutes to Caleb Houston. They need a good 20 points per game guy if they really want to make a jump and be a real threat
Zach is worse option than huerter. He will hog the ball,and he is turnover machine. Magic need catch and shoot player or a “dirty” player like dray green or dillon brook. Magic need more physical player
Hueter is lucky to be in the league still
There is no reason for the Blazers to do that trade.
Never really mentioned the blazers ….
Weird, so are you trading with the Seattle Mariners then, or who are you trading with for Simons, genius?
Has everyone who comments on this site had a lobotomy?
They should hace traded for Coby White. Ant is nice too but his playstyle is very on ball heavy, I wonder how that would look with Paolo and Franz.
FYI: In Portland’s offense last season, 70% of Simons’ shot attempts came from beyond the arc, and most of those were catch and shoot. He connected on over 51 % of his catch and shoot field goal attempts.
How does one shoot 51% from catch and shoot but only 36% from 3 if 70% of his shots were C&S? Is his off the dribble % like 25%?
Good catch. That was when he was playing alongside Lillard. Not this last year. He is down to only 50% catch and shoot, and his success is only at around 38% of those. He’s having to create more himself now…. he needs someone like Banchero to take the pressure off him.
holy s**t, bringing back the same roster next year would cost the magic nearly $200M, anyone who has a team option and is not named Franz Wagner should be pretty nervous right now i reckon!
So you don’t trade for Trae but you want Anfernee Simons? LOL
Simons offense would potentially compliment Franz and Paolo. Trae would require the ball more and take away from them and also costs $18m more next year and wants another big contract.
Simons cost $27.6 million while Trae costs $45.9 million. “LOL”
Magic need an actual star at point guard not a CJ McCollum 2.0 Chucktoad.
Simons is from Orlando, btw
Kevin Love is from Portland, KD is from DC, Steve Nash is from Canada. Not every player wants to play for their hometown team.
I’d rather have Sexton, plus, he will command less assets in a trade. Coby White would be great also.
A scoring forward off the bench. Not only a stretch 3-4-5, a guy who can score inside the arc and create scoring opportunities.
Cole Anthony should be a keeper, he can score
So see a world in where you keep Franz and Paolo and surround them with Suggs, KCP, Sexton and Cole Anthony and it’s successful..
I was thinking Sexton too. Only issue there is you got to pay the Danny Ainge tax.
Ha. He will ask for a player and a first round pick. Call Danny to his game
Also a veteran with championship experience.
Orlando should go for a home run, Devin Booker, Austin Reaves or CJ McCollum.