5) NBA Trades: The Spurs trade for the Blazers' Anfernee Simons in a potential deal.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons has had a down year, which is all the more surprising considering that he had the best season of his career in 2023-24. His scoring is down four points per game, and his 3-point percentage has dropped nearly 3% as well.
However, the Spurs should still have him on their radar given his shot-making ability. Simons' was previously mentioned as being a great fit on the Spurs by NBA analyst Zach Lowe. He even mentioned Johnson as a player who could be involved in a potential deal.
Had a deal like that happened last season, or even over the summer, the Spurs might have had to give up a first-round pick or two in addition to Johnson to acquire Simons. However, with Simons' struggles this season, the Spurs could potentially get him for Johnson and Charlotte's top-14 protected 2025 first, which will likely convey, and a 2026 or 2027 second.
While Johnson still has some value given his physicality, specifically as a driver who can bulldoze his way to the rim, his play is sporadic. He often struggles when his 3-point shot is not falling, and that often tends to be the case with him having to rely on scoring in the paint instead of being able to space the floor for his teammates.
His lack of shooting has hurt the Spurs' second unit, with him paired with Jones, Castle, and Collins, forming an unsightly lineup that can't do much of anything away from the basket. Throwing Simons into the mix would give them a different look and give them a much better shooter than Johnson.
It wouldn't be a seamless fit, however, with the Spurs having more guard depth than they do on the wing with Paul, Jones, and Castle. Nevertheless, Simons' shooting ability should intrigue San Antonio, with him having been one of the best high-volume shooters in the NBA over the last four seasons, hitting 38.3% on 8.5 3-point attempts per game during that span.
He is also under contract for another year at an affordable rate, and if he were to settle nicely into a bench role, then he could be affordable to keep around. Acquiring him would also allow the Spurs to take some of the wear and tear off of Paul, who has yet to miss a game this season. Paul playing fewer minutes while Simon plays longer stretches could help both him and the Spurs.
The Trail Blazers are devoid of talent, and that is likely affecting Simons' play. While San Antonio isn't worlds better, they definitely have a better team that could help Simons get his season back on track. Especially with him playing alongside Wembanyama.
A bench consisting of Simons, Castle, Champagnie, and either Collins or Bassey would have better spacing than it currently does now, to be sure. With Johnson and Simons both not having great seasons, their value should be about equal, and the Spurs should consider making a move to acquire Simons, given he is a superior shooter.