One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in a blockbuster trade. Lee Tran of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Blazers:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAL), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
“Anfernee Simons is an athletic guard who also provides some 3PT shooting and shot creation,” Tran wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “He has shown that he can play next to a ball-dominant player like Damian Lillard already and be impactful, so he would in theory be a good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“On the Lakers, all Simons would have to do is move off the ball and shoot, and he could definitely contribute to the Lakers winning a championship. Ideally, Simons would be the No. 3 or No. 4 option on the team with the ability to take over on certain nights.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Simons is better suited to play somewhere else since the Blazers have Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. The youngster averaged 21.1 points last season while shooting 44.7% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc and 89.4% from the free-throw line.
The 24-year-old Simons has career NBA averages of 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Blazers in July 2022. Simons won the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest. Portland was open to trading Simons and the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for a star. However, no trade happened and Damian Lillard was upset. Lillard has now demanded that the Blazers trade him to the Miami Heat.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers could start Simons, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis if Los Angeles’ front office figured out a way to acquire Simons from Portland.
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