Thus far, many of the dialog round Anfernee Simons has framed him as a commerce chip greater than a basketball match.
That is cheap, contemplating the roster continues to be in flux, together with the truth that they haven’t even held an introductory press convention to mark his arrival. However because the summer time drags on with no breaking information, it’s value taking a step again and evaluating how this might turn out to be a mutually helpful partnership.
Simons has spent his whole profession in Portland, a workforce with little latest playoff success. Whereas the Celtics are usually not a contender as at present constructed, they’ll be Simons’ first actual take a look at a championship group.
Out of necessity, the Blazers gave Simons the ball, and a ton of leeway to create his personal offense. Boston will profit from his creation skill, however the ballhandling of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard permits Simons to faucet into completely different strengths with much less on-ball duty.
Simons is a gifted scorer, however not suited to be a major offensive engine. Not having to be the #1 precedence on the scouting report ought to actually work in Simons’ favor. For the Celtics, Simons provides a welcome mix of on-ball juice and off-ball gravity. He’s somebody who can create a shot late within the clock, or assault mismatches when opposing defenses are stretched skinny. If Joe Mazzulla desires to stagger Brown and White successfully this season, Simons turns into much more essential as a bridge between lineups. And if his catch-and-shoot numbers maintain up in a lower-usage position, he may turn out to be a really intriguing offensive weapon.
After spending 5 seasons beneath the steering of Damian Lillard, he hasn’t had a real operating mate in Portland that would constantly take the stress off of him.
His time alongside Lillard stays the clearest blueprint for the way Simons would possibly thrive subsequent to a different scoring star.
He’s a fearless shot-taker with a lightning-fast launch, which makes him completely certified to thrive on the benefits created by others. Like Lillard, Brown and White draw loads of eyes on their drives. In a sport about margins, this can purchase Simons a number of extra inches of area than he’s had shortly.
Within the ‘21–’22 season, Simons performed prolonged minutes alongside Lillard and CJ McCollum—two creators who drew fixed consideration. In that position, he led the league in catch-and-shoot 3-point proportion (47.8%, min. 2 makes an attempt).
With respect to Dame and CJ, Brown and White supply a significantly extra balanced assist system. They’re nonetheless able to drawing doubles and bending defenses, however in addition they give Simons the posh of enjoying alongside stronger perimeter defenders.
Simons’ protection has been a weak level all through his profession, and it’s unlikely he turns into a difference-maker on that finish. However in a lowered position alongside two-way gamers, he may keep extra engaged and restrict his publicity.
That very same construction may additionally assist additional development on offense. Apart from simply spot-up alternatives, there’s room to develop attacking closeouts. Simons has a skillset that’s tailored for punishing defenses in scramble mode, and with the Celtics, extra benefits will probably be created for him.
In these early days, Simons was nonetheless discovering his footing within the league as a gifted scorer studying to function within the gaps of a star-driven offense. Now, he returns to the same setup with way more polish and the added perspective that comes from having run the present himself. With that have behind him, he’s higher geared up to reap the benefits of the openings others create, as a substitute of being solely accountable for producing them.
When Brown drives or has a mismatch within the submit, Simons will have the ability to begin his three-level assault with the higher hand–as a substitute of constructing one for himself–when the ball swings his approach.
That type of ball motion, anchored by gamers like White, rewards guys who could make fast selections in area, and Simons might be devastating in these moments.
It’s doubtless Brad Stevens will preserve taking calls on Simons. That’s simply the character of asset administration. However letting him play out the primary few months in Boston might be worthwhile. Whether or not he’s a part of the long-term plan or not, giving him an opportunity to contribute in a extra balanced position raises each his on-court worth and general commerce enchantment.
Utilizing Simons extra off the ball can also be a pure strategy to cut back his offensive burden and spotlight a scalable talent set that matches profitable basketball. As an upcoming free agent, that type of shift in notion may matter to decision-makers simply as a lot as his field rating numbers.
In fact, the objective isn’t to show a dynamic scorer right into a ground spacer. Simons has been one of many league’s extra constant high-volume pick-and-roll guards in latest seasons, and that a part of his sport ought to translate nicely in Boston. Mazzulla and the workers will nonetheless depend on his self-creation and pull-up capturing, however the surrounding expertise permits him to select his spots extra selectively.
For a participant seeking to show he can contribute to a contender, and a workforce navigating a transition yr, this might be a short-term match that evolves into one thing extra significant for each side.
