Negotiation is an art. Some artists are more talented than others. That’s true in the NBA as well. Teams negotiate with each other, but sometimes, those negotiations just don’t end up anywhere.
During this year’s offseason, the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers did a lot of negotiation. It didn’t end up going anywhere. The Heat were looking to land Damian Lillard, but it seems they weren’t willing to offer enough. As a result, Lillard would be moved to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Did those failed negotiations strain the relationship between these two organizations? It’s possible. With that said, if there were a deal that made enough sense between the two sides, they’d likely make it.
Could a deal sending Anfernee Simons to the Heat make sense?
NBA Trade Proposal — Miami Heat Land Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Duncan Robinson, G/F Jaime Jacquez Jr. F Nikola Jovic, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – MIIA)
Miami Heat Receive: G Anfernee Simons
With that said, even the most artful negotiator can’t materialize a deal. It’s not that simple. To make a deal, you’ve got to have enough assets. You may be able to broker a good deal, but nobody will give you anything.
Perhaps that’s what the Heat misunderstood. Throughout the offseason, it felt like the Heat just assumed that Lillard would land on their doorstep. It didn’t go that way. Miami didn’t have the assets, and as a result, they didn’t get their guy.
They may have more negotiating ahead of them. The Heat are fresh from an NBA Finals appearance, but nobody is penciling them in for a repeat performance.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
This team had to get through the play-in tournament last season – they could use a talent upgrade. Would Simons be an appropriate one?
Why The Miami Heat Do The Deal
A lot of teams would be apprehensive about pairing Simons alongside Tyler Herro. To be sure, they’re both volume scorers. Most teams aren’t the Miami Heat. This team has the means to cover for any lack of combined playmaking between these two.
After all, they get most of their playmaking from Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler anyway. By putting a pair of shot makers in the backcourt, the Heat could build an inverted offense that rivals any team in the NBA’s attack. This could work.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
Meanwhile, Miami isn’t likely to include either Jovic or Jaquez in their rotation very prominently next year. The only major loss for the Heat here is the draft capital, and for a team that just made the Finals, that’s a deal worth making.
Should this deal work for the Blazers?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
If the Blazers had wanted Tyler Herro, we may not be having this conversation. Lillard may already be on the Heat. That said, it’s understandable that they weren’t interested in him. The Blazers have too much young backcourt talent as is.
Of course, that’s a rich person’s problem. The Blazers don’t need to solve it overnight. Portland could experiment with three-guard lineups that feature Simons in the backcourt with Scoot Henderson and play Shaedon Sharpe on the wing.
Yet, if those lineups don’t look viable on defense, they may decide that Henderson and Sharpe are the backcourt of the future. In that event, this is a good return for the Blazers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
They’re landing a first-round pick and a swap in addition to two interesting young players. In time, all of those assets could help them with their upcoming rebuild. In other words, this is a deal worth negotiating for both sides.
