I'm not that worried about the defense, it wasn't good, but not Trae Young by any stretch, rookies don't defend well as a rule, even future superstars. Abd
As to the bolded.... that's decidedly untrue. MPJ is a much better scorer than Simmons, and a much better FT shooter. He's also a better rebounder. He's nowhere near the passer and never will be, same on defense, but also he doesn't turn it over anywhere near as much on the same usage.
I'm going to add two comps below, one is MPJ vs Simmons as age 21 rookies:
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the other is MPJ vs Simmons last year:
View attachment 37170
There is a good argument that MPJ is already a better offensive player than Simmons. Now sure Simmons is elite defensively, and MPJ is not good (though more mediocre for a rookie than outright bad for a rookie), but I want my stars to dominate on offense, I can find defense, I can't find 50/40/90 guys who rebound well and don't turn it over much on high usage, and that is the kind of player MPJ's rookie year suggests he has a real chance to be.
EDIT- to be clear, Simmons is a better player, nobody disputes that, BUT.... MPJ is good enough now, and has the projectability of a higher ceiling that if you get him and other significant pieces, it's a better deal than Simmons.
In the end I doubt it matters, I don't think DEN is making that deal for several reasons.