Source: Anfernee Simons agrees to two-year, $12.3 million deal to bolster Sixers’ bench
After trading for star Jaylen Brown Wednesday night, the Sixers turned to bolstering their bench after losing sixth man Quentin Grimes.
Anfernee Simons has agreed to sign a two-year, $12.3 million contract with the 76ers, a source confirmed to The Inquirer Thursday afternoon.
After trading for star Jaylen Brown Wednesday night, the Sixers turned to some much-needed bench bolstering after losing sixth man Quentin Grimes, who will reportedly sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Simons has shot 38.1% on 6.6 career three-pointers during his eight-year career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls.
Simons also was one of Brown’s former teammates with the Celtics last season. Simons averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 49 games before being traded to Chicago for reserve center Nikola Vucevic.
» READ MORE: Resetting the Sixers’ roster after their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and free-agency moves
To sign Simons and stay under the first apron, where they are hard capped, his contract will come out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception. Ariel Hukporti’s one-year, $3.4 million deal, which was agreed to Wednesday, will come out of the $5.5 biannual exception.
Simons joins a Sixers guard group already featuring All-NBA third-teamer Tyrese Maxey and VJ Egdecombe, who finished third in voting on a terrific ballot for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. Simons’ addition could cut into the initial playing time for rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the 22nd overall pick in the draft.
The Sixers’ roster currently sits at 14 players. Reserve center Adem Bona’s contract becomes guaranteed July 7, while Dalen Terry’s nonguaranteed deal and Jabari Walker’s partially guaranteed deals become guaranteed Jan. 10.
This is another step in the Sixers going all in to become a legitimate Eastern Conference threat.
They finished last season seventh in the East standings (45-37) and, after their stunning rally from down three games to one to upset the Celtics, were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks. In addition to the Sixers’ blockbuster trade for Brown, the Toronto Raptors re-acquired former star Kawhi Leonard and the Miami Heat traded for two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Current depth chart
Point guard: Tyrese Maxey, Labaron Philon Jr.
Shooting guard: VJ Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons, Dalen Terry
Small forward: Jaylen Brown, Justin Edwards
Power forward: Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker
Center: Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Johni Broome
