<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/blazers-news-anfernee-simons-stuns-nikola-jokic-nuggets-with-epic-game-winner');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Anfernee Simons stuns Nikola Jokic, Nuggets with epic game-winner');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Blazers-news-Anfernee-Simons-stuns-Nikola-Jokic-Nuggets-with-epic-game-winner.jpg"></figure><h1>Blazers’ Anfernee Simons stuns Nikola Jokic, Nuggets with epic game-winner</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T21:39:28-08:00">December 19th, 9:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T21:49:03-08:00">December 19th, 9:49pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-3-key-blazers-drawing-trade-interest">Portland Trail Blazers were in cruise control</a> against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, taking a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter. But the Nuggets have come from behind on multiple occasions this season, and it looked as though they seized momentum of the game for good after Russell Westbrook swallowed up an Anfernee Simons shot leading to a Michael Porter Jr. dunk that gave Denver a two-point lead. However, it was Simons who had the last laugh, as he <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869978699220824237" rel="noopener">drained a game-winning floater</a> over Westbrook in isolation just as the time expired to give Portland a 122-120 win.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">ANFERNEE SIMONS CALLED GAME ON RUSSELL WESTBROOK AND THE NUGGETS 🚨</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trailblazers</a>)<a href="https://t.co/Cea2J0q7BJ">pic.twitter.com/Cea2J0q7BJ</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869978699220824237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Simons was on point all night long, and he was the no-brainer pick for the Blazers to give the ball to for the last shot of the game. His isolation on Westbrook was eerily reminiscent of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/paul-george-vs-damian-lillard-a-timeline-of-their-feud">Damian Lillard’s iso against Paul George</a> back in the 2019 NBA playoffs, but this time, Simons drove to the lane and got the step on the Nuggets guard, and all Westbrook could do was flail at the ball to try and swipe it, failing to contest the shot at the apex. This resulted in a pretty easy bucket for Simons who gave the Blazers their ninth win of the season in 27 contests.</p><p>The Blazers breathe a major sigh of relief, especially after Simons slipped in what was a scary moment earlier in the fourth quarter. Simons was making his way to the basket when he slipped on a wet spot near the restricted area, turning the ball over which then led to a Nuggets three-pointer. The 25-year-old guard shrugged off the slip and finished the game off strong, and in the end, he recorded 28 points on 11-20 shooting from the field — a continuation of the trend of good games he’s been having as of late.</p><h2><b>Blazers stave off choke job vs. Nuggets thanks to Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Blazers-Anfernee-Simons-smiling.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was apparent in the fourth quarter that the Blazers were a less-experienced team than the Nuggets. They were being outplayed and outhustled, with Russell Westbrook and Jamal Murray leading them back from 17 down to pave the way for Nikola Jokic to try and cement the game for Denver. But Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe did just enough to lead Portland across the finish line as the victor.</p><p>Simons and Sharpe combined for 18 of the Blazers’ 22 points in the fourth quarter, with the latter hitting two free throws following a Jokic loose ball foul to give the Blazers a 122-120 lead. Jokic retaliated with an easy basket on the other end, but they left too much time for the Blazers, setting up Simons’ heroics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Anfernee Simons stuns Nikola Jokic, Nuggets with epic game-winner

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/blazers-news-anfernee-simons-exits-vs-timberwolves-with-chest-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Anfernee Simons exits vs. Timberwolves with chest injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Anfernee-Simons-suffers-injury-scare-vsjpg.jpg"></figure><h1>Blazers’ Anfernee Simons exits vs. Timberwolves with chest injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-12T20:14:48-08:00">November 12th, 8:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-12T20:14:48-08:00">November 12th, 8:14pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The past few games have been rough for the Portland Trail Blazers, and it doesn’t seem like there’s much light at the end of the tunnel for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/blazers-chauncey-billups-calls-out-soft-team-with-loser-take">arguably the league’s worst team</a>. On Tuesday night, the Blazers, who were already missing Deandre Ayton in their NBA Cup opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, also saw Anfernee Simons have to exit the game early due to a chest injury. Per Blazers PR on X (formerly Twitter), Simons <a href="https://x.com/TrailBlazersPR/status/1856546154768736473" rel="noopener">will not be returning to action</a> later tonight.</p><p>Simons played for just the first five minutes and five seconds of the game before the Blazers had to take him out of the contest as he fell to his knees at around the halfcourt area and appeared to be in serious pain. At first, it was thought of to be a <a href="https://x.com/highkin/status/1856537246205391130" rel="noopener">wrist or hand injury</a>, but it became apparent that the Blazers guard was simply doing his best to catch his breath after suffering what appeared to be a <a href="https://x.com/DannyMarang/status/1856537173333627135" rel="noopener">blow to his chest</a>.</p><p>For a Blazers team looking to bust out of a slump, losing their best outside threat and shot creator does not bode well. Simons also has a history of missing games due to injury; he missed 36 games last season and then 20 before that, and with the Blazers not really playing for anything more than better lottery odds, one would think that Portland will be very cautious in dealing with any injury problem.</p><p>With Simons having to go out of the game early, the Blazers thrust Scoot Henderson into the fray. Henderson, who has been in a bench role to start the season, could have his biggest opportunity of the season yet to stake his claim for a bigger role. Dalano Banton, Rayan Rupert, and Shaedon Sharpe also figure to have more touches of the basketball with Simons out.</p><h2><b>Blazers look to bust out of terrible stretch in a big way</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Scoot-Henderson.jpg"></figure><p>Even with Anfernee Simons out, the Blazers have looked like a much-different team so far through the first half of their Tuesday night contest against the Timberwolves as they lead 60-53 at the half. The team’s bench mob has come to play. Dalano Banton, in particular, has been on point with his shot, scoring 12 points on 4-5 shooting while going perfect from deep on four attempts.</p><p>Robert Williams III also appears to be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-blazers-center-very-tradable-not-deandre-ayton">back in form</a>; after missing plenty of time over the past few seasons due to recurring injury woes, Williams has been staking his claim for a bigger role in the Blazers’ loaded frontcourt picture. He put up 13 points, five rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in only 11 minutes of play — looking like the Williams of yore who started for the Boston Celtics at center during their run to the NBA Finals in 2022.</p><p>This showing from the Blazers is promising, especially when their past three games have been downright disastrous. They have lost their past three games by a combined 83 points, and that simply cannot fly — even for a rebuilding team. But the NBA Cup appears to have brought the best out of them despite being shorthanded.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Anfernee Simons exits vs. Timberwolves with chest injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/magic-news-why-orlando-must-push-for-anfernee-simons-trade-with-blazers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Magic must push for Anfernee Simons trade with Blazers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7670070487.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Magic must push for Anfernee Simons trade with Blazers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-01T11:31:04-07:00">August 1st, 11:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-01T11:31:51-07:00">August 1st, 11:31am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the NBA offseason progresses, the Portland Trail Blazers are clearly entering a phase of rebuilding, with key assets like Jerami Grant rumored to be on the move. In this climate of strategic realignment, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/blazer-news-best-anfernee-simons-trade-destinations-as-portland-decide-future">another significant Blazers player</a>, Anfernee Simons, has emerged as a potential trade piece.</p><p>Simons, a highlight in a tumultuous season for the Blazers, has shown he’s a commodity on the trade market. The 25-year-old guard, drafted in the late first round in 2018, has quickly risen to prominence as one of the league’s elite guards. Following Damian Lillard’s trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, Simons stepped up impressively, averaging 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. With two years and $53.6 million remaining on a team-friendly contract, Simons is a prime target for teams seeking a capable combo guard.</p><h2><b>The Orlando Magic need to acquire Blazers’ Anfernee Simons to bolster their offense</b></h2><p>The Orlando Magic, in particular, stands to gain significantly from Simons’ acquisition. Last season, Orlando faced challenges with its perimeter shooting, finishing at the bottom of the league in three-pointers made and 24th in three-point efficiency. Their offensive struggles were evident as they averaged only 110.5 points per game, ranking 24th in the league, which is unusually low for a playoff team. Despite offseason efforts to enhance their shooting, including the addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the drafting of Tristan Da Silva, the need for a high-caliber scorer like Simons is clear.</p><p>Magic forward Paolo Banchero addressed the team’s needs earlier this offseason when he spoke to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/16/paolo-banchero-young-nba-stars/" rel="noopener">Ben Golliver of the Washington Post</a>. “[The front office] wants two-way guys who add to what we already have in terms of our defensive identity, length and versatility. Shooting is a big part of what we need to improve on, whether we go and get somebody or try to develop guys. I don’t know which way they’re going to approach that. And having a guy who can set the table and be reliable. We have a lot of talented guys who can make shots and make plays: me, Franz [Wagner] and Jalen Suggs. I would rather be more of an offensive hub than the point guard, if that makes sense.”</p><p>Simons, who is in the top echelons for shooting efficiency — especially notable with a 47% success rate on wide-open threes over the past three years — fits this bill perfectly. His ability to efficiently drive and score would mesh well with the Magic’s core players like Banchero and Franz Wagner, potentially elevating Orlando’s offensive game significantly.</p><h2><b>Trade dynamics involving a Magic trade for Simons</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Anfernee-Simons-shooting.jpg"><figcaption>© Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While Simons’ offensive talents are well-documented, his defensive performance, with a defensive rating of 120.5 and a defended field goal percentage of 54.2% last season, suggests room for growth. However, standing at 6’3″ tall with a wingspan of 6’9″, Simons possesses the physical tools necessary for defensive development. In Orlando, which had a<a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS" rel="noopener"> defensive rating of 110.8 last season</a>, Simons’ potential as a defender could be realized under the right system and guidance.</p><p>Incorporating Simons poses strategic decisions for Orlando, particularly in terms of lineup choices. With Caldwell-Pope and Jalen Suggs expected to start, Simons might best serve the team as a dynamic bench player initially, providing a significant boost to Orlando’s offensive unit.</p><p>Orchestrating a trade for Simons would require Orlando’s front office to make thoughtful moves. A possible trade scenario could involve sending players such as Anthony Black and Cole Anthony to Portland, along with draft picks, including a 2025 first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets and a 2026 first-round pick (lottery protected). This deal would supply Portland with young assets and future flexibility as they rebuild.</p><p>For Orlando, acquiring a player like Simons could be transformative, particularly in addressing their offensive shortcomings. As the NBA landscape evolves, securing Simons could propel the Magic into stronger contention within the Eastern Conference, showcasing a firm commitment to assembling a versatile and robust team capable of achieving greater heights.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Magic must push for Anfernee Simons trade with Blazers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/blazer-news-best-anfernee-simons-trade-destinations-as-portland-decide-future');   ga('set', 'title', 'Best Anfernee Simons trade destinations as Blazers decide future');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Best Anfernee Simons trade destinations as Blazers decide future</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-01T11:12:54-07:00">August 1st, 11:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-01T11:12:54-07:00">August 1st, 11:12am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Anfernee The Portland Trail Blazers are steering towards an extensive rebuild, evident from the flurry of trade rumors surrounding their key players. While rumors swirl around <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-jerami-grant-blazers-trade-pursuit-has-obstacles">Jerami Grant potentially being traded</a> to the Los Angeles Lakers, another significant piece, Anfernee Simons, is also reportedly on the trading block.</p><p>Trail Blazers <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uaforS0n88" rel="noopener">insider Aaron Fentress</a> indicates that the Blazers are looking to reshape their roster by offloading Simons, who has emerged as a bright prospect after Damian Lillard’s departure to the Milwaukee Bucks. Last season, the 25-year-old guard boasted impressive stats with averages of 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game, showcasing his sharpshooting abilities by hitting 43% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. With a team-friendly contract of two years and $53.6 million remaining, Simons is an attractive target for teams seeking an adept guard.</p><h2><b>1. Orlando Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future-2.jpg"></figure><p>The Orlando Magic are desperately seeking to enhance their offensive output, especially in perimeter shooting where they lagged significantly last season. The addition of players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Tristan Da Silva aims to address this, but Simons could be the key to solidifying their efforts. His proficiency in hitting 47% of wide-open threes over the past three seasons would immensely benefit the Magic’s shooting woes. A potential trade involving young talents such as Anthony Black and Cole Anthony, coupled with future draft picks, could provide the Blazers with the assets needed for a rebuild while bolstering the Magic’s scoring capabilities.</p><h2><b>2. Los Angeles Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future-3.jpg"></figure><p>Amid their ongoing roster reconfigurations and the potential acquisition of Jerami Grant, the Lakers could further strengthen their lineup by adding Anfernee Simons. His integration would provide a youthful boost and significant scoring ability, complementing stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This move could be crucial in extending the Lakers’ competitive window and easing the transition into the post-LeBron era. The Lakers might offer a package that includes Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, or D’Angelo Russell, along with a future first-round pick, offering immediate value and future assets to the Blazers.</p><h2><b>3. San Antonio Spurs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future-4.jpg"></figure><p>The Spurs are focused on building a robust team around Victor Wembanyama and new draft pick Stephon Castle, with the addition of veteran Chris Paul being a strategic move. Paul’s historical impact on teams, particularly highlighted by his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder where he significantly enhanced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance, suggests he could have a similar influence on Anfernee Simons. This mentorship could unlock Simons’ full potential, making him an even more formidable force in the league. The Spurs could offer Keldon Johnson and a future first-round pick to the Blazers, enriching Portland’s young core and draft assets while solidifying the Spurs’ competitive edge.</p><h2><b>4. Cleveland Cavaliers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future-5.jpg"></figure><p>Cleveland’s recent playoff performances have been underwhelming, primarily due to inconsistent outputs from the backcourt. Integrating Simons could provide a new dynamic alongside Donovan Mitchell, possibly propelling the Cavaliers deeper into the playoffs. In exchange, the Blazers could look to acquire Darius Garland and additional assets, leveraging Garland’s high potential and playoff experience for their rebuilding phase.</p><h2><b>5. Detroit Pistons</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Anfernee-Simons-trade-destinations-as-Blazers-decide-future-6.jpg"></figure><p>After a dismal season, the Pistons are looking to revitalize their roster with Cade Cunningham at the helm. Simons’ ability to stretch defenses with his three-point shooting could complement Cunningham’s playmaking skills, potentially transforming the Pistons’ offensive strategies. The Pistons might offer Jaden Ivey and future first-round picks, providing the Blazers with promising young players and valuable draft choices while enhancing Detroit’s scoring depth.</p><p>As the Trail Blazers navigate their rebuilding strategy, trading Anfernee Simons emerges as a pivotal move to gather essential assets for future success. Among the potential destinations, the Orlando Magic is most likely to acquire his talents, given their acute need for his sharpshooting abilities to revitalize their perimeter scoring.</p><p>For Simons, the destinations outlined offer promising opportunities to elevate his career in environments where his abilities will be highly valued and can significantly impact team performance. With the Magic, in particular, Simons could play a crucial role in transforming their offense, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement for both him and the team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Best Anfernee Simons trade destinations as Blazers decide future

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-blazers-expected-trade-jerami-grant-anfernee-simons');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Blazers expected to trade 1 of Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NBA-rumors-Blazers-expected-to-trade-1-of-Jerami-Grant-Anfernee-Simons.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Blazers expected to trade 1 of Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-30T09:08:58-07:00">July 30th, 9:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-30T09:10:12-07:00">July 30th, 9:10am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After moving Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks last offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-gets-real-on-not-expecting-to-coach-a-rebuilding-team">entered a new era</a>, one that would be led by their young talents such as Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson, the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. As the Blazers began their rebuild, the 2023-24 season went as expected — a 21-61 record and a last-place finish in the Western Conference standings.</p><p>Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Blazers once again seem destined to miss the playoffs, yet what their roster will ultimately look like remains a mystery due to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lakers-linked-to-jonas-valanciunas-jerami-grant">trade rumors</a> surrounding Simons and veteran forward Jerami Grant.</p><p>The Blazers’ only concern right now is finding ways to get their young core as much experience as possible. Swinging a trade involving one of these players may make the most sense to open up minutes and accumulate future assets. While recently appearing on Sactown Sports 1140 in Sacramento, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian discussed Portland’s options involving Simons and Grant, pointing out that one of the two will <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uaforS0n88" rel="noopener">likely be moved</a>.</p><p>“I would be surprised if Jerami (Grant) or Anfernee Simons, that one of the two is not moved,” Fentress said on Monday. “I was told that’s definitely the goal, that one of the two would probably be gone before training camp. Both being gone might be different. They obviously have time. They can wait until the trade deadline and see if someone else will offer more.”</p><p>The main reason why the Blazers may be active on the trade market as sellers ahead of training camp is because Simons and Grant don’t appear to be their future. Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and rookie Donovan Clingan are going to be the young talents Portland moves forward with, making Simons and Grant disposable.</p><h2><b>Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant trade value</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jerami-Grant.jpg"><figcaption>Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Both Simons and Grant could contribute to various playoff-contending teams right away, which is why they hold some value on the open market. However, at this point in the offseason, the Blazers may have a hard time finding legitimate trade partners due to salary restraints, and many organizations are already finalizing their rosters for the start of the 2024-25 season.</p><p>Between the two players, Grant is certainly the player many teams would have interest in due to his two-way play. Over the last two seasons in Portland, Grant has averaged 20.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range.</p><p>The problem with pursuing a trade for Grant is that he is under contract through the 2027-28 season and still has over $132 million left on his contract. Very few teams in the league would have the ability to not only put together a trade package with at least $30 million in salary to equate Grant’s current deal, but many teams are struggling with remaining below the first and second tax aprons.</p><p>In Simons’ case, he has just two more years left on his contract and is owed a total that is slightly above $50 million. At 25 years old, Simons has proven that he can be a lead guard both as a scorer from the perimeter and a facilitator. Over the last two seasons, the Blazers guard has averaged 21.7 points and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range.</p><p>The idea of building around Henderson and Sharpe is the main reason why Portland could look to move off of Simons while he holds a fair amount of value. Still, the idea of beginning the season with both players may be more appealing to the Blazers, especially considering that a team may be willing to pay more for either Simons or Grant ahead of the trade deadline.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.4	2.5	4.8	0.1	1.0

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.4	2.5	4.8	0.1	1.0

Anfernee Simons

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Best Anfernee Simons trade destinations as Blazers decide future

NBA rumors: Blazers expected to trade 1 of Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons

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