NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Anfernee Simons
By Adam McGee
Fit with the Bucks
There’s no reason to believe the Bucks couldn’t have use for Simons in the long term, and in fact, the fully realized version of the youngster could well be a nice piece for a team built around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The problem comes in the timing. The Bucks have a valid sense of urgency to make strides while Antetokounmpo is on his current contract, and it’s hard to square picking Simons with that vision and timeline.
How long will it be before Simons is a regular rotation piece in the NBA? Will he ever reach that point? There’s a possibility he becomes that and even more, but it will likely require the kind of patience, developmental work and, most importantly, forgiving minutes the Bucks just can’t afford at present.
Simons’ gifts as a more instinctive scorer would certainly add a new dimension to the Bucks’ attack, as would his playmaking if it can make strides over the coming years.
The fact is at this moment, without time in college or any meaningful amount of experience against top level competition, those remain questions rather than more concrete projections.
Next: NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Khyri Thomas
Picking Simons would be akin to drafting Rashad Vaughn, Thon Maker and, even to a lesser extent, D.J. Wilson. Perhaps that means it’s exactly what the Bucks will look to do in June, but it’s probably time for them to consider players with a little more readiness to contribute.