According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers and Anfernee Simons have agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million contract on day three of NBA free agency. Hot off their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers sign a pure scorer to add to their offensive juggernaut in Philadelphia.
Simons will join a star-studded Philadelphia team featuring Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. With the ever-growing strength of the Eastern Conference during the offseason, the Sixers have easily set themselves apart and look to be the team to beat at this moment.
Philadelphia 76ers Get Even Stronger, Sign Anfernee Simons To $12.3 Million Contract
The 76ers seem primed for a top seed in the Eastern Conference with Brown and Simons joining the roster. Simons will enter his ninth NBA season after a solid campaign with the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. Across his 55 appearances last season, Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds.
Simons’ new contract will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2027-28 season, if he so chooses to do so. He will have a player option for his second season, which he could opt out of and return to free agency next offseason. After spending the first seven years of his career in Portland with the Trail Blazers, Simons will be joining his third team in just under a year.
Simons will be joining the new-look 76ers in a primary backup role for Maxey. With Brown also joining Philadelphia, the 76ers are now one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA and will be contenders to go to the NBA Finals. Their mix of offensive weapons and defensive talent will be hard to contend with for any team and could make them one of the most exciting teams to watch heading into next season.
Simons joining the bench adds an effective scorer to the 76ers’ rotation, and he could be poised for a big year. Additionally, if injuries begin to arise, as they have in the past for the Sixers, Simons will have an opportunity to step up into a bigger scoring role.
Simons has averaged over 17 points four times in his nine seasons in the league, including two seasons of 20 points per game. In Portland, Simons became one of the best rising scorers in today’s game. This upcoming season will be his first season on a true contender, after Boston shipped him out right before the deadline to the rebuilding Bulls.
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