The Philadelphia 76ers kept the offseason pressure on Wednesday, adding another guard to a roster that already got a jolt from the Jaylen Brown trade.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Philadelphia is signing Anfernee Simons to a two-year deal worth $12.3 million. Simons was one of the more coveted names still on the market, with Golden State and Miami among the teams linked to him before the 76ers stepped in and got the deal done.
That kind of pursuit makes sense. Even after a down year split between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, Simons still carried real appeal because of what he’s been for most of the last five seasons: a dangerous scorer who can light it up from deep. Over that stretch, he has averaged 18.8 points and 3.1 3-pointers made per game.
For Philadelphia, that skill set fits a clear need. Charania noted that the 76ers were in the bottom three in bench points and 3-pointers made per game, and Simons gives them a proven shot-maker off the bench. He also ranked sixth in 3s made off the bench last year, which only sharpens the fit.
Charania reported: “Simons -- who has averaged 18.8 points over the past five seasons and ranked sixth in 3s made off the bench last year -- gives the 76ers a major offensive boost after the team ranked in the bottom three in reserve scoring and 3-pointers made. His agent Bill Duffy of WME… https://t.co/r64IoBKgNT”
The Brown addition already put Philadelphia in a strong position, and the front office kept building from there. The 76ers have also added Dean Wade, Labaron Philon Jr., and Ariel Hukporti, giving the roster more depth around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
At this point, the 76ers look like one of the biggest winners of the NBA offseason. They’ve landed talent, filled out the rotation, and done it while keeping their young players out of the Brown deal. And with Mike Gansey steering the aggressive approach, the message is pretty clear: Philadelphia may not be finished yet.
In Other News...
Celtics Already Linked To Another Major Move After Jaylen Brown Trade
Bostons decision to move Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and multiple future draft picks already reshaped the conversation around both teams, but the Celtics may not be done making noise. With a fresh haul of assets in hand, Boston is being linked to another possible swing, and the name getting mentioned is Trey Murphy III, a forward who spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and has become one of the more intriguing players on the market.
Murphys appeal is easy to see for a team that just changed its core: he brings size, versatility and the kind of two-way profile that fits almost any contenders wish list. Philadelphia will obviously be watching how Boston uses the rest of its war chest, because if the Celtics do make a run at Murphy, it would be another sign that Browns departure was just the beginning of a much bigger reshaping in the East. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Sixers Moved Fast On Anfernee Simons After Brown Trade
After the June 1 deal that sent Paul George and multiple draft picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers did not wait long to start reshaping the rest of the roster. The next move came in free agency, when Philadelphia brought in guard Anfernee Simons on a two-year contract with a player option in the second season, a quick add aimed at giving the revamped group another perimeter scorer and some needed backcourt punch.
Simons had other options, but Philadelphia moved decisively to close the deal and keep its momentum going after the Brown trade. From the Sixers side, the appeal was clear: a younger guard who can help with scoring depth right away and fit into a lineup that still needed more production behind its top names. [Read more 🡒]