After trading for Jaylen Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers moved quickly to fix a quieter but serious problem: bench offense. Anfernee Simons has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with Philadelphia, with a player option in the second season. The contract is modest by modern guard standards, but the basketball logic is clear. The Sixers needed scoring that did not force Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey or Brown to create every clean look. Simons gives them a guard who can heat up fast, space the floor and run enough offense to keep reserve groups from stalling. He averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 55 games last season with Boston and Chicago. Across those stops, he shot 38.5% from 3-point range, giving Philadelphia a credible shooter whose gravity should travel.
Why The Sixers Needed Simons
The Sixers did not sign Simons to win the press conference. They signed him to stop second-unit scoring droughts from wrecking playoff stretches.
Philadelphia’s Brown trade changed the roster’s top end. The Sixers agreed to acquire Brown from Boston for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round selections, creating a core built around Brown, Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. That kind of deal raises the ceiling, but it also tightens the margins around the rest of the roster. With so much money and draft capital tied to stars, Philadelphia needs affordable rotation players who can produce immediately.
Simons fits that plan because his skill set addresses a direct weakness. He ranked sixth in made 3s off the bench last season, while Philadelphia ranked near the bottom of the league in reserve scoring and made 3s. That is the cleanest explanation for the deal. When defenses send help at Embiid in the post, crowd Brown on drives or pressure Maxey above the arc, the Sixers need a guard who can punish late rotations. Simons gives Nick Nurse another player who can turn those possessions into points.
How Simons Got Here
Simons’ path to Philadelphia was not linear. He spent his first seven NBA seasons in Portland, then moved to Boston as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. With the Celtics, he settled into a bench-scoring role and averaged 14.2 points while shooting nearly 40% from deep in 49 games. Boston later traded him to Chicago in a deal for Nikola Vucevic.
His time with the Bulls barely had a chance to develop. Simons appeared in six games for Chicago before a left wrist injury ended his season. That context matters. Philadelphia is not signing a player coming off a clean, stable year. It is betting that the Boston version of Simons better reflects his value than the injury-shortened finish in Chicago.
In a July 2 post on X, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that Simons chose Philadelphia over other suitors because he believed his fit was “perfect with the revamped 76ers roster.” The wording matters because this was not only a money decision. Simons had interest from Dallas, Golden State, and Miami, but Philadelphia offered a clearer role on a team that had just reshaped its core.
The Fit Is Real, But Not Safe
Simons brings instant offense. That is the selling point. He can play as a catch-and-shoot guard next to Maxey or Brown, then take more control when Philadelphia staggers its stars. His range should help Embiid most. A center who draws double teams needs guards who can punish rushed closeouts without needing five dribbles to get comfortable.
The defensive risk is just as clear. Simons is 6-foot-3, and playoff opponents will make him prove he can survive tougher matchups. Against the Knicks, for example, Jalen Brunson can drag smaller guards into repeated screening actions, force switches, then attack angles in the lane. That is the kind of possession where Simons’ size and screen navigation will be tested.
Nurse can protect him with stronger defenders around him, but he cannot hide him forever. Simons must chase over screens with more force, avoid soft switches, and hold up when bigger guards try to move him off his spot. If he gives back too much on defense, his scoring becomes harder to keep on the floor late in playoff games.
A Small Deal With Real Rotation Stakes
The two-year, $12.3 million structure works for both sides. Simons gets a chance to rebuild his market value in a clearer role. The player option gives him flexibility after the first season. Philadelphia gets a proven scorer without locking itself into a long contract.
This signing does not carry the weight of the Brown trade. It should not. Brown changes the top of the roster. Simons changes the minutes that often decide whether stars have enough help to finish games.
Philadelphia needed bench shooting, secondary creation, and a guard who could keep the offense moving when the first unit sits. Simons checks those boxes. His wrist must hold up, and his defense must reach a playable level. At this price, the Sixers made a sharp, practical bet on a skill they badly needed.
READ MORE – Celtics Gamble On The Future, Trading Finals MVP Jaylen Brown To Rival Sixers
FAQs
Why did the Sixers add Anfernee Simons?
The Sixers needed bench scoring and shooting. Simons gives them a guard who can create points without overloading their stars.
What is Anfernee Simons’ contract with the Sixers?
Simons agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal. The second season includes a player option.
How does Anfernee Simons fit with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey?
Simons spaces the floor and punishes help defense. That should create cleaner looks around Embiid, Maxey and Jaylen Brown.
What is the biggest risk with Anfernee Simons?
Defense is the concern. Playoff teams will test his size, screen navigation and ability to survive tough guard matchups.
Why is this signing important after the Jaylen Brown trade?
Brown raises the Sixers’ ceiling. Simons helps the cheaper rotation minutes that often decide playoff games.
