Why 76ers are signing Anfernee Simons after blockbuster Jaylen Brown trade

The Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason has been highlighted by their June 1 decision to trade Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown. 

Swapping an injury-riddled/declining star in George for an NBA Finals MVP in Brown looks great on paper, but it’ll be up to Brown and the 76ers to prove that they’re the real winners of the unexpected deal. 

Interestingly, Philadelphia followed up the move by signing former Celtics guard Anfernee Simons.

“Just in: Free agent guard Anfernee Simons has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with a player option in the second season,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X/Twitter Thursday. “Simons chose the 76ers over other suitors, believing his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster.”

Considering the 76ers’ bench is still relatively weak after adding more offensive firepower to their starting unit, signing Simons makes perfect sense. The former first-round pick is known for being an immediate, confident scorer when his number is called, allowing him to impact games from the jump.

The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 14.9 points for his career thus far (444 contests), shooting 43.2% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Simply put, the 76ers are continuing to round out their roster and assemble a well-rounded squad before the start of next season. 

Adding Simons to the equation is certainly proof of that.

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