Anfernee Simons made it clear towards the end of the Portland Trail Blazers season that all this losing was taking a toll on him. At an end-of-season exit interview, the talented combo guard specifically made it clear that he wanted an "opportunity to win."
Portland gave him an opportunity to achieve that by trading him to the Boston Celtics, though that decision was more financially driven on Brad Stevens' end to duck the apron. After later being traded to Chicago, it was apparent Simons needed to take things into his own hands in free agency.
He ultimately decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $12.3 million deal, including a player option for that second season. Not much money given his talent, but NBA insider Marc Stein did report it was a better deal than what was being offered from teams like the Warriors, Heat, and Mavericks.
Anfernee Simons will be key for 76ers' contention chances
Again, for Simons, though, winning was a huge priority. Philadelphia had landed Jaylen Brown just the day before Simons agreed to join. It was clear this team was going to be a problem in the East.
Not only that, but Simons' fit would be a huge reason why. The 76ers ranked bottom ten last season in three-point makes and efficiency. Their depth and bench scoring were an even more problematic area that needed to be addressed.
Throw LeBron James into the equation and all those things become more true. Simons now even has a better opportunity to win that first ring he's always wanted. And now, his fit and that shooting and bench scoring he brings to the 76ers become even more crucial for contributing to that success.
Philadelphia has a strong case as the best starting five in the league, but depth could be an Achilles heel for such a top-heavy, star-studded roster. That's where the former Blazers come in, headlined by Simons, filling out the roster for this Eastern contender.
We already caught a glimpse of that contribution on Tuesday, where Simons looked like the clear-cut sixth man for Philadelphia, finishing with 13 points on efficient 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-8 shooting from deep in 25 minutes.
It wasn't even necessarily the production that was as telling as the fit playing alongside all these stars. They seemed to sacrifice for one another when it came to making that extra pass and buying in on the defensive end. But with James taking on more of that distributor role at age 41, it's clear Philadelphia will need Simons' shooting and shot creation a lot this season.
Simons joined the 76ers in free agency because of the money, fit, and chance to win. It turned out even better than he could've imagined, with James surprisingly joining the roster as well. Now, Simons has everything he's ever wanted -- and never had during his time in Portland. He's in his prime at 27 years old, and has a great opportunity to not only win in Philadelphia, but also contribute to that winning in a huge way off the bench.
Add us as a preferred source on Google