Portland Trail Blazers: 2018 NBA Draft grades
No. 24: Anfernee Simons, IMG Academy
The Trail Blazers used their lone pick in the draft to swing for the fences, going for potential over need. Anfernee Simons is a post-graduate from Altamonte Springs, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. He originally committed to play at Louisville for the 2017-18 season, but backed out due the multiple scandals that had hit their program.
Simons is a 6’3″, 183-pound combo guard with a 6’9″ wingspan. At IMG, he played under John Mahoney, a former assistant coach under John Beilein at Michigan. The results of that are hard to determine, as there is limited footage and available stats for IMG’s postgraduate games.
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Still, Simons had the highest ceiling of any player left in the draft. He impressed the Blazers so much, he worked out for them twice. In the post-draft press conference Olshey indicated that was something he simply couldn’t pass up, regardless of who others expected them to select.
"“[There is] some risk in that it’s not a guy with a big body of work because he didn’t play at the college level. But that’s our job. Our job is not to play it safe. Our job is to go get the guy that has the talent that, if he pans out, you’re not going to get as a free agent and nobody’s going to trade him to you”."
It’s hard to fully know what Simons will become, but he has the potential to be a great floor-spacer and finisher. Simons has the bounce to throw down some athletic jams, so he could be fun to watch. At the same time, he also has a soft shooting touch from distance.
Of course, there is going to be a steep learning curve, and Simons will need to bulk up to match up with NBA opponents. The Ringer also points out that he may need to change his shot release once he starts facing NBA competition, despite how well it serviced him as an amateur.
Simons’ presence on the roster could also mean the end for Shabazz Napier in the Pacific Northwest. Napier is a restricted free agent with a $3.4 million qualifying offer. By contrast, Simons’ rookie scale contract will cost, at the most, $1.6 million in his first year.
Napier’s departure would open things up for Wade Baldwin, a fellow RFA but with a $1.7 million qualifying offer. This would allow Simons to move into the third-string role. Simons could also see some run at the 2-guard.
Anfernee Simons is an intriguing pick. It was a shock to see Portland pass up on such an obvious need just to take him, even when the talented wings were available. However, Simons has the tools to be a great player in his own right.
It should also be noted that the Blazers have a knack for selecting great guards that were underrated. They also have an all-around solid player development program. With those things in mind, the selection of Anfernee Simons doesn’t seem so bad after all.
Grade: B