every time you see a path to a roster that begins to make sense, the square-peg/round-hole obstacle is Simons...yeah, call me a 'hater'; I'm used to it
Well, I'd probably be less inclined to move him if we didn't have Scoot. I think point guard is the natural position for him. Does that mean he's a point guard? I don't know. Not in the same way that Dame or Scoot is. But I think he's too short to play shooting guard effectively. I'm just SO tired of short backcourts. I'm ready to move on from that. So if we can flip Simons for a young small forward, that would be ideal. Then you run with Scoot/Sharpe/Brogdon.
The Blazers like to pay 6th men combo guards like they're stars, then they end up feeling forced to start them. I think Simons will eventually be traded though. (unless Scoot/Sharpe turn out to be busts).
Not sure how a 24 year old has the same upside as a 31 year old and less than a 26 year old - But I suppose it does fit your Ant hating narrative.
This is because many fans here are fixated on typing out a PG/SG/SF/etc starting lineup and how the names fit their decades of memories of the NBA. They're also jaded by the history of CJ as a SG. Has nothing to with with how the NBA has changed to now having 5 guys on the court that have a good blend of offense and defense. There is plenty of room for Ant/Scoot/Sharpe to be part of an elite NBA basketball team. Don't worry though - in a year or two we'll start having all the moaning about how Scoot and Sharpe are in the way of rookie x or future draft pick Y.
Because Ant is a similarly undersized shooting guard who doesn't play defense. Simons is one of the worst defenders in the league.
There is certainly a non zero chance of this. Not just busts - they could end up as valuable backup but below a starting quality player. Or one of the 3 could have injuries. Perhaps one day it will make sense for the Blazers to split up the Scoot/Sharpe/Ant trio. But lets wait until that actually an issue - before we try to force a solution on a non existent problem.
I think many have a mythical idea of how players progress and improve. How many players really take tremendous leaps after age 24? Those that do are an exception, not a norm.
Yet he's a better defender than Sharpe in many metrics as well as navigating screens. I'm all about Sharpe long term, but the guy is 20 and on year 2 of a rookie deal. He doesn't need talent cleared out of the roster.
It makes sense to trade Ant if we get more value back in return than he is worth here. If not then keep him. I never understand this sell at all costs mindset some fans have. Look at Nurk - yeah he had all sorts of issues but we flipped him as the main piece for Ayton. The other centers we've ran with recent years are Eubanks and Cody Zeller. If we can flip Ant for a big upgrade someday then sure do it. If not then he has a spot here instead of trying to play Skylar Mays or whatever.
I didn't say they had the same upside. I said there was not much upside for either. Ant isn't going to get taller and he isn't going to get better at defense and he isn't ever going to be a SF or be able to be a wing or be capable of 3&D. He's entering his 6th season; he played in 288 games, has played 6750 minutes, and has averaged over 23 minutes/game over those 288 games, and over 32 minutes the last 2 seasons. It's not unreasonable, at all, to assume he has no higher gears to shift into. If he did, he would have shifted already and I'm curious: what difference is there between my 'unreasonable' Ant hate, and your unreasonable Ant love? You're one of his biggest, if not the biggest, advocates here. Do you really believe you're closer to the median than I am?
Who was it over in Miami that said you can't have your best player be your worst defender? That was aimed at Dame, but now it applies to Ant, for those that believe Ant will be Portlands best player this season. I lean towards Ayton being the best player myself at this point, but guards dominate the ball.
Keeping Simons around for another year is insurance, and also allows a 3 guard rotation. I just hope they don't play Sharpe at SF....
I don't unreasonably love Ant... I much prefer both Scoot/Sharpe to Ant. I value Ant for what he is - a dynamic 24 year old 3 level scorer. I just push back on the hate he gets all over this board as I see many of these criticisms being both illogical and ridiculous. Did Dame improve after 24? Plenty of players do. If Ant doesn't he's still elite in many offense ways even with defensive shortcomings. If he makes some big improvements he would be a legit All-star. Maybe he will improve or maybe he won't. I'm eager to find out with him wearing a Blazers uniform. I also enjoy having a deep team. I don't want a bunch of shit backups on this roster as we did with all the LMA/Dame teams. Having Ant in a backcourt with Scoot/Sharpe is not a weakness -its a big stength.
