The Philadelphia 76ers made headline-stealing moves for four-time MVP LeBron James and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. That's inevitably become the key talking point in just about every discussion about the 76ers' offseason. It's the signing of Anfernee Simons, however, that may be their most savvy move of the summer.
Respected cap specialist Yossi Gozlan recently put the Simons signing into perspective, praising it as perhaps the biggest bargain of the 2026 offseason.
Simons entered the 2026 offseason as something of a mystery player considering the delicate balance between his history as a productive player and the fact he was traded in 2025-26. The uncertainty surrounding his future seemed to benefit Philadelphia, which signed him to a two-year, $12.3 million contract.
During a recent episode of the Third Apron Podcast, Gozlan praised the 76ers' signing of Anfernee Simons as arguably the biggest bargain of the summer.
For those who can't access the video at this time, Gozlan said the following about the 76ers signing Simons for just $6 million per season.
"They got Anfernee Simons for the taxpayer mid-level exception. Truly one of the, maybe the biggest bargain of the offseason. I anticipated that he was going to get a pay reduction...I thought he'd get closer to the full mid-level like $15 million. Maybe even a little less than that like a $12 million salary and you just take like a one or two-year deal and just try to build your value up from there. He got half the $12 million valuation."
There have been a number of great signings this summer, but Gozlan's praise is founded in their extensive knowledge of the present state and history of the NBA from a financial perspective. That further fuels the feeling that Philadelphia found a steal in Simons.
Anfernee Simons signed for less than $12.3 million over two seasons
Philadelphia's starting lineup is set in stone and certain to consume significant minutes and touches. That's what makes the Simons contract such a steal, however, as the quality he provides on the court is only half of the manner in which his value will be measured.
For instance: If the 76ers ultimately end up in a position in which they need to trade for an impact player at another position, Simons' team-friendly contract could be an invaluable asset.
On the court, Simons' ability to run the second unit and play without the ball with all but equal proficiency only heightens the appeal. He's a career 38.1 percent three-point shooter who shot 42.9 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2025-26 and 42.7 percent in 2023-24.
In fact, Simons has buried at least 37.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes in each of the past six seasons—and has shot better than 42.7 percent in four of them.
In addition to thus being able to play off of his ball-dominant teammates, Simons is a more than capable shot creator and playmaker. He boasts career averages of 20.2 points and 4.3 assists per 36 minutes, and shot 53.8 percent on drives in 2025-26 and 47.0 percent in 2024-25.
Whether Simons is traded or spends the entire 2026-27 season in Philadelphia, his bargain contract has become one of the biggest steals of the 2026 offseason.
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