The Philadelphia 76ers may have pulled off one of the quieter steals of the offseason, landing Anfernee Simons on a deal that looks tiny next to the kind of impact he can bring.
Simons joined the Sixers on a two-year, $12.2 million contract, a clear bargain for a talented combo guard who should be a major piece of the rotation. Philadelphia plans to use the 27-year-old as the nominal sixth man, and that role comes with real responsibility. It also gives the front office a lot to brag about if he delivers at the level they expect.
That’s what makes this signing so dangerous for everyone else in the league. Teams built around stars usually can’t just go out and add players of Simons’ caliber, especially with the new CBA rules making roster construction tougher.
Philadelphia, though, managed to bring in someone who would likely start on plenty of other teams. He’s on the bench only because the Sixers’ opening group is already full.
And that bench role could end up mattering just as much as anything else. Simons brings three-level scoring that can swing a game, and he should give Philadelphia a real boost whenever the starters are off their mark. He’ll also be the lead piece for a second unit that features a couple of new veterans and a flashy rookie scorer.
There’s another layer here too: Simons gives the Sixers a way to soften the blow when one of their starters is out because of injury or rest. Nick Nurse can lean on a player with real starting experience, someone who has shown he can produce like a fringe All-Star when he gets starter-level minutes.
That’s why this move could end up being remembered as one that pushed Philadelphia closer to being a team nobody wants to deal with. The Sixers’ bench has been one of their weakest spots in recent years, but Simons changes that fast. What looked like a bargain may wind up looking like a headache for the rest of the league.
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76ers Suddenly Have A Real Backup Center Battle To Watch
The 76ers have added another big body to the mix, and Ariel Hukporti now enters camp with a chance that never quite materialized for him in New York. After signing a one-year deal with Philadelphia, the young center is expected to spend the preseason battling for the backup job, a role that suddenly has a little more intrigue because of the teams injury situation and the way the roster is built.
For Hukporti, this could be the kind of opening that changes the conversation around his career. He did not have much room to carve out steady minutes with the Knicks, but Philadelphia may offer a clearer path if he can hold his own in camp. If he turns that opportunity into real rotation value, it would give the 76ers an early payoff for making the move in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Maxey Just Put Huge Pressure On VJ Edgecombe
Tyrese Maxey has already put a spotlight on VJ Edgecombe before the season even gets rolling, calling the rookie the most important player on the 76ers for what comes next. That is a notable layer of expectation on a player who is still expected to find his footing, but the role is clear enough: Edgecombe is being counted on to bring life off the ball, help with passing, knock down threes and fit into an offense that needs movement and pace around its top creators.
The defensive end may be where the pressure really gathers. Philadelphia wants Edgecombe taking on the opponents toughest backcourt assignment, which says plenty about how quickly the team believes he can matter. Even with other All-NBA talent on the roster, the 76ers seem to view his energy and all-around skill as a swing factor, and how he handles that responsibility could tell a lot about how smoothly this group comes together. [Read more 🡒]
LeBrons Surprise 76ers Jersey Choice Had A Meaning Lakers Fans Know
LeBron James made a small but notable statement during the 76ers annual intersquad scrimmage, showing up in Philadelphia blue with No. 9 on his back rather than one of the numbers most fans normally associate with him. The choice stood out immediately in a setting that is usually more about familiar faces and routine summer work, and it gave the event a little extra buzz for a fan base that knows how closely jersey numbers can carry meaning.
James has long treated his number selection as part personal preference, part tribute, and this one fit that pattern. In Philadelphia, No. 9 offered a nod to Julius Erving, whose No. 6 is retired, while also connecting to his son Bronny James. For Lakers fans, it was the latest reminder that James can turn something as simple as a jersey into a signal, even in an unofficial setting where the details often matter more than the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]