The Trade Proposal

Blazers Receive: G Cole Anthony, G Anthony Black, & 2025 1st Round Pick

Magic Receive: G Anfernee Simons

Why Anfernee Simons No Longer Fits in Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of a significant transition. With Damian Lillard’s departure and the emergence of Scoot Henderson, the franchise has its eyes set on the future. Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is poised to be the centerpiece of Portland’s backcourt for years to come. His blend of athleticism, playmaking, and leadership makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Blazers’ rebuild.

Alongside Henderson is Shaedon Sharpe, another dynamic young guard with immense potential. Sharpe showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie season and is expected to take on a larger role moving forward. With Henderson and Sharpe anchoring the backcourt, the Blazers have a promising duo that could develop into one of the most exciting young guard tandems in the league.

This leaves Anfernee Simons in a difficult spot. While Simons has developed into a potent offensive weapon, his fit alongside Henderson and Sharpe is questionable. Simons is a score-first guard who thrives with the ball in his hands, but the Blazers’ future plans likely revolve around Henderson as the primary ball-handler and Sharpe as the secondary option. With Simons’ skill set overlapping with these two young guards, his role in Portland’s long-term vision becomes murky.

Why the Magic Need a Scoring Threat

The Orlando Magic surprised many by making the playoffs in 2024, showcasing their young talent and solidifying their place as a rising team in the Eastern Conference. Led by Paolo Banchero, the Magic have a versatile and dynamic forward who can do it all on the court. However, as talented as Banchero is, Orlando lacks a consistent high-level scoring threat to complement him.

Anfernee Simons could be the answer to that problem. Simons has proven to be one of the most explosive scorers in the league, capable of taking over games with his shooting and shot creation. Simons has the ability to score in bunches, legitimately carried the Blazers to multiple 4th Quarter comebacks with 15+ point quarters.

Adding a player like Simons would give the Magic a dynamic backcourt scorer who can take some of the offensive pressure off Banchero. Simons’ ability to create his own shot and score from all three levels would make Orlando’s offense more versatile and difficult to defend.

Cole Anthony is a talented young guard who has shown promise as a scorer and playmaker. However, with the emergence of Jalen Suggs, Anthony’s role in Orlando has been somewhat diminished. A change of scenery in Portland, where he could play off the ball alongside Henderson, might help him reach his full potential.

Anthony Black, the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is a versatile guard with great size and defensive potential. While he is still developing his offensive game, Black’s ability to defend multiple positions and facilitate makes him a valuable asset for a rebuilding team like Portland.

The 2025 first-round pick provides additional value for the Blazers, giving them another asset to build around their young core.

Why This Trade Makes Sense for Both Teams

For the Trail Blazers, this trade allows them to fully commit to their rebuild around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe while adding two young guards who could complement their future backcourt especially Anthony’s scoring off the bench & Black’s length on defense. Cole Anthony and Anthony Black offer different skill sets that could blend well with Henderson and Sharpe, while the 2025 first-round pick adds flexibility for future moves.

For the Magic, acquiring Anfernee Simons would address their need for a high-level scorer to pair with Paolo Banchero. Simons’ ability to take over games offensively would provide the Magic with a go-to scoring option, making them a more formidable team in the Eastern Conference.

As both teams look to take the next step in their respective rebuilds, this potential trade could be a win-win scenario that helps each franchise move closer to their ultimate goals.

Someone who also proposed this trade was Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.