Jan 10, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Anfernee Simons (1) drives to the basket against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34, right) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
There were two significant differences between Games 1 and 2 and Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers. One, the Magic held Cleveland to 39 percent shooting and 8-of-34 (23.5 percent) from three in a 121-83 win. Two, Orlando’s backcourt scored points.
Jalen Suggs finished with 24 and Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony added 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench. Getting production from its backcourt has been an issue this season for Orlando. Paolo Banchero is stealthily becoming a superstar in his second season, averaging close to 23 points and 7 rebounds while dishing out more than 5 assists a game with shooting splits of 46/34/73.
But only two Magic guards averaged double figures in scoring: Suggs at 12.6 and Anthony at 11.6. As a team, Orlando was 24th in scoring and 24th in 3-point shooting percentage, yet they finished with a 47-35 record and the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Give Banchero and Franz Wagner a guard who can spot up from deep and take on some of the scoring and playmaking load and the Magic go from an ascending team to a legitimate East contender. And there’s one player who fits that archetype perfectly and is available if the franchise wants to make a move.
The Orlando Magic should trade for Portland’s Anfernee Simons
Anfernee Simons is a scorer at heart, but with Damian Lillard being sent to Milwaukee and Scoot Henderson struggling during his rookie season, he was forced to develop into a playmaker. He averaged career-highs in scoring (22.5 ppg) and assists (5.5) and shot 38.5 percent from three on 8.8 attempts a night.
When he played second fiddle to Lillard during the 2021-22 season and had a usage rate of 24.8 – which lands between Wagner’s and Anthony’s this year in Orlando – Simons averaged 17.8 points and shot 40.8 percent from three on 7.8 attempts. That’s about where he’d likely land with the Magic.
Add that level of scoring and shooting and put Simons next to an All-Defense caliber guard in Suggs to hide his deficiencies on that end and Orlando’s floor and ceiling both take a major leap.
Despite being one of Portland’s most talented players, the six-year veteran is not in any way untouchable. If the Magic offer some combination of young players and picks – maybe Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr. and two future firsts – Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin would listen.
The Game 3 win over Cleveland showed the Magic’s potential. Games 1 and 2 highlighted its weaknesses. Adding a proven scorer, shooter and playmaker like Simons to the trio of Banchero, Wagner and Suggs and Orlando becomes a real Eastern Conference contender.
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Andrew Hanlon is the Assistant Editor for The Dunk Central. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and has been writing about sports professionally for more than a decade. He started out covering local high school sports before transitioning into a full-time NBA connoisseur. He has been published on FanSided, SBNation and Sportscasting.
