I heard that he still hasn't been introduced as a new team member and the media constantly talks about him being rerouted. I know you can't believe everything you read on the net, but it's kind of weird that the Celtics don't want him, if that is indeed true. If it isn't, then why would they not welcome him and have a press conference and introduction by now? Simons is a very good player with untapped potential, I think. Would be nice to see him shine, I think he's a good dude with integrity and character, unlike Paul George, Embiid, the Morris twins, or some other people out there who are more well known and regarded. I was reading on some of the Celtics media articles, the fan comments were calling him Simmons and that crap has been going around for years where people can't even differentiate between Simons and Simmons. It's either extremely disrespectful or just extremely stupid. Or both. Hell, even some blazers fans were calling him Simmons in YouTube comments or elsewhere. This year has so much going on around the league and so much concerning the Blazers, it's going to be quite interesting to watch things unfold.
Probably still trying to trade him. I get that in trying to trade him, they don't want to introduce him as part of the team going forward, but damn, the closer it gets to the season, it maybe is becoming disrespectful to him.
He was just hard core over valued in Portland and Dame hyped him up as well. Teams aren't lining up to pick up expensive one way players on expiring contracts these days...even Westbrook can't get a roster spot for the minimum. They might buy Ant out and he could end up playing in Greece or something. Ant is a 6 man paid like a starter
No. Hes mid. Always was. Always will be. Just people who knew, like me, from the beginning. It was blatantly obvious.
It's bullshit that they haven't held a press conference and introduced him to the fans. Even if the plan is to trade him, plans change; see what happened to their top player and the subsequent postseason roster moves, for example. How exactly does this work? You trade for him, but send out the message through your inactions that you don't want him?!? And then what happens if you can't trade him? This is going to give him a ton of confidence and improve his trade value, lol. Simons has done nothing wrong. He has worked hard, improved, and earned an NBA career. Is he as good as the players he's replaced? That's hard for the vast majority of players in the league. Has he been a problem off the court? Nothing that I've ever heard about. Simons played hard for the Blazers. I wish him nothing but success and happiness (except when he's playing against the Blazers.)
Untapped potential? He's been in the league for damn near 8 years. I think the NBA has done all the tapping it can with Ant. It shows you had little value he has around the league, though I do feel for him. His numbers are irrelevant to organizations because of horrid defense. It's even sillier thinking how he got in the way of Scoot/Shae last season. You don't let a guy like that eat into the development of your prized lottery picks. It must be a gut punch to him though. That's the price of doing business when you're making the kinds of money these guys are. They are still human and deserve to be treated as such.
How is 7 years “damn near 8 years?” And he’s only what, 26? We’ve seen players improve drastically in their 30s. There’s always room to grow.
I know, I can't understand those who don't think players can still grow and learn things. He's sure not an old dog, so why can't he learn new tricks?
He is an old dog in basketball years. Just know: ant is mid. Its not an opinion anymore, it's fact. He sucked. He wasted a roster spot for years.
I technically don't know because I don't remember anyone from any legitimate news source ever addressing it. I think it was posted in the 2023 off season. If it's a deep fake I think it's one of the best I've ever seen.
