NBA Draft 2018: Which players are heading to the toughest situations?

By Brian Rauf | Jun 22, 2018

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Collin Sexton poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the second half of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

CG Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers – Round 1, Pick 24

What in the world are the Blazers doing?!?

Portland is in position to win now after getting the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season and, despite picking late in the first round, still had the chance to land a player who could make an immediate impact for them at a position of need. Instead, the Trail Blazers chose to reach for Simons, who is perhaps the biggest project in this class.

Oh, he’s also a guard, which is a position Portland is pretty much set at with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Simons does have plenty of upside and was the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class (he was committed to Louisville before Rick Pitino was fired) thanks to his athleticism, but opted to enter the draft straight from prep school.

That lack of maturity shows itself both in his game and in his body. Simons really needs to get stronger, improve his jumper, and get much better defensively. Can Simons turn into a quality player? Absolutely. But that’s several years in the future, which could be several years too late for Portland.

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