The Trail Blazers won three straight games without Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons* in the lineup and undeniable these absences coincided with the best stretch of basketball has played all season. (*Ant played 5 total minutes, you get it)
It’s been a small sample size, just three games, but the improvement is hard to ignore. The team has shown a more cohesive and effective style of play, raising questions about the impact of these two players on the court.
Without Simons, the Blazers have been able to field bigger lineups, reducing the number of negative defenders on the floor. And Portland has been able to make up for Simons’ offense — which admittedly has been a struggle in its own right to begin the season — with a obscenely hot shooting night against Minnesota, and two impressive breakout games from Shaedon Sharpe.
With Ayton out, the Blazers have leaned on Robert Williams, who continues to look like the team’s best big man. Plus, Donovan Clingan had the best game of his young career last Wednesday against the Timberwolves.
The sample size is small enough that one-off hot shooting games, and an monster Clingan night have had out sized impact. Certainly the Blazers have played their best basketball without Simons and Ayton available. And yet, three games is probably not a large enough sample size to be definitive. Three games is three games.
So what’s the solution here? If you’ve read this far I’m sure you’re screaming it at your screen. TRADE THEM! But finding a deal for Simons and Ayton isn’t going to be simple.
Both players have significant contracts, making them challenging to move. Simons, with his $25 million salary, and Ayton, earning around $34 million, present financial hurdles for potential trades. The market for players like Simons, who are high-volume scorers but struggle defensively, is limited. And Ayton came in with very little trade value and hasn’t exactly upped his market in his short time in Portland.
The reality is that trading these players isn’t just about finding a willing partner; it’s about finding the right fit that aligns with the Blazers’ vision for the future. The team is navigating a complex landscape, balancing the need for immediate improvement with the long-term goal of building a competitive roster.
And to be blunt: Chasing a crappy trade based on three games over the course of the week is not how decisions like this should be and are made.
The Blazers have benefited from some short term addition by subtraction, but the back half of this roster-based math equation is tricky.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ strategy and potential trade scenarios, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- The impact of recent lineup changes on team performance
- Simons and Ayton’s trade value
- The challenges of navigating the NBA’s new CBA rules
