When the 76ers roll out their new-look roster in the 2026-27 season, most of the group will still be learning each other on the fly. Anfernee Simons and Jaylen Brown won’t be starting from zero, though. They already have a head start from their brief run together in Boston, and that familiarity could matter once Philadelphia starts sorting out roles.
Their overlap with the Celtics was short, lasting only a few months before Simons was dealt to the Chicago Bulls midseason. Even so, the two built enough of a connection to make the transition smoother now that they’re teammates again. Brown made it clear he valued what Simons brought during that stretch.
"Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me," Brown said after Simons was traded to the Bulls. "He's just a great person, great kid on and off the floor, just humble...He was a great teammate and did everything he needed to do that we asked him and more, and contributed to winning."
Jaylen Brown really gushed when asked by @ByJayKing about Anfernee Simons being traded: “Anfernee has all the respect in the world from me - it's a business, but there's a human aspect to it. And since he's been here, he's contributed to winning.
He's won us some games. He's… pic.twitter.com/YX6wAB48HM
Simons’ Boston stint also showed how flexible he can be. After starting the previous three seasons in Portland, he came off the bench in every game he played for the Celtics.
Some nights he was asked to give the team a jolt. Other nights, he had to carry more of the load.
Brown praised the way he handled that shift.
That adaptability should help in Philadelphia, where the setup is different from what Simons and Brown knew in Boston. Joel Embiid is the offensive hub when available, Tyrese Maxey is the other tentpole, and V.J.
Edgecombe has established himself as a complementary piece next to them. Simons is likely headed for a bench role again, where he can bolster the second unit.
Brown’s role changes too. He won’t be the main option the way he was with the Celtics in Tatum’s absence, but he has already shown he can fit alongside other high-end talent. That makes him a natural fit in Philly, and a clear upgrade from Kelly Oubre Jr.
For Simons, the move to Boston was about more than just a new uniform. He wanted playoff basketball, and he got a taste of what that environment looks like, even if his time there ended before the postseason. He has played 14 postseason games with Portland, though in a limited role, and now he gets another shot at a team with real championship hopes.
Both players bring skills that should translate. Brown is one of the league’s best two-way wings and one of its most well-conditioned athletes.
Simons can stretch the floor, score in a variety of ways and create for himself and others. He spent years sharpening his game under Damian Lillard’s guidance.
There’s also the unknown of how all of this looks around Embiid. Neither Brown nor Simons has played with a big like him, and Nick Nurse is known for mixing things up and trying different schemes.
That makes the fit unfamiliar, but not unworkable. Both players have the basketball IQ and talent to adjust.
The bigger picture is simple: both Simons and Brown arrive in Philadelphia with something to prove. Simons wants to show he can help win and push a team into the playoffs. Brown has dealt with criticism and distasteful rumors since leaving Boston, and the 2024 Finals MVP now has a chance to answer back.
In a summer packed with trades and free-agent movement, every shortcut matters. For the 76ers, Brown and Simons already have one built in. Their chemistry from Boston may not solve everything, but it gives Philadelphia an edge most teams won’t have when the season begins.
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The bigger picture is just as important. The Sixers have already made several roster moves and are trying to position themselves as title contenders for the 2026-27 campaign, but that plan only really works if Embiid gets a full offseason to work on his game and build toward the fall. For a team that has spent so much time managing uncertainty, a healthy summer for its centerpiece is the kind of change that can reshape expectations before training camp even opens. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Just Got The Chance 76ers Fans Have Waited For
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Embiid has not spoken publicly about the trade, but the buzz around the team is that he is enthusiastic about the addition and already looking ahead to the coming season. Health will still shape how far this group can go, and the front office may not be done yet, with the possibility of another major move hanging over the roster as the 76ers try to turn a big summer into something even bigger. [Read more 🡒]