Redrafting the 2018 NBA Draft: Elite playmakers and modern bigs

Damian Lillard’s injury and CJ McCollum’s trade deadline departure last season cleared the runway for Anfernee Simons, who finally delivered on years of unrequited hype. The flashes have always been there with Simons, but last season he finally put the pieces together. His size, explosiveness, and talent for shot-making on the perimeter suddenly blossomed into full-blown stardom.

There are undeniable similarities between Simons and McCollum, the latter no doubt influencing the former’s development over the years. But Simons is bigger than McCollum, not to mention younger and more explosive driving downhill. Whereas the overlap between Lillard and McCollum was sometimes frustrating, there’s a much clearer path to Simons complementing and elevating Lillard without the two-star guards stepping on each other’s toes.

It’s valid to fret over Simons’ defense, but his 6-foot-9 wingspan is enough to assuage some of those worries long-term. He’s currently averaging the highest assists mark of his career despite Lillard’s return to superstar form, and Simons continues to elevate his scoring numbers without sacrificing efficiency.

Simons looks the part of a genuine offensive hub — the kind of player who can provide the bridge between generations for a franchise like Portland. He’s capable of creating his own offense from scratch or initiating for others off of dribble penetration. That, combined with his ability to bomb 3s and co-exist with other ball-dominant guards, makes Simons an easy inclusion in the lottery.