With two contenders said to be seeking a massive backcourt upgrade, it is believed that both Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets had interest in Portland Trail Blazers’ speedy guard, Anfernee Simons, according to the league insider Sam Amico. From the Simons’ perspective, NBACentral pitched a story with a picture of Simons driving knee-deep into the basket against much more defensive pressure, an image showing just how explosive he is as he has become coveted. At 24, Simons last season put up the numbers of 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game for the Blazers, cementing his name as one of the bright scoring talents of the league. The response to the trade rumors was almost instantaneous but diverse, further highlighting the layers complicating any trade.