Washington Wizards Receive: G Eric Bledsoe, G Anfernee Simons (Sign & Trade), 2022 First-Round Pick (POR)
Portland Trail Blazers receive: G Bradley Beal
In an otherwise dark season, the emergence of Anfernee Simons offered Portland Trail Blazers fans a little bit of light. He increased his points per game from 7.8 to 17.3, emerging as a Most Improved Player candidate.
The Washington Wizards may view the 22-year-old as a viable long-term replacement for Beal. They’re choosing him over the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 first-round pick the last deal saw them receiving. With Simons’ play in 2021-22, it might be the smart call.
Meanwhile, losing Simons stings for the Blazers. Still, if their intention is to field another competitive roster with Damian Lillard, they’ll have to make sacrifices.
As an added bonus, they get to keep Josh Hart here. He’s a perfect complementary wing for a star backcourt. He may be a Washington area native, but if the Wizards have to rebuild, they’d only be acquiring him to match contracts.
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The Blazers and Wizards are in somewhat similar positions. They both face questions about whether they’ve gone as far as possible with the star guards they currently roster.
Either could choose to trigger a rebuild, but if only the Wizards opt for that route, they could be natural trade partners.
If the Blazers intend to stay the course, they could do some real damage with a properly constructed roster surrounding a Lillard/Beal backcourt.
