The Philadelphia 76ers will enter the 2026-27 season not only having the most loaded starting five in the league, but also have one of the most improved rosters in the league across the board. One addition the front office made is Anfernee Simons, whom the team somehow managed to lure into the franchise on a bargain-bin deal. Heck, with this move, they might just end up being the envy of the league.
Simons arrived in Philly to the tune of a two-year, $12.2 million deal, which is clearly a below-market rate for the talented combo guard. The 27-year-old will be heavily relied on by the coaching staff as the nominal sixth man for this 76ers team. While that is a steep and pressure-packed challenge for him, it would also invite a lot of attention into his play this coming season. If anything, that will only give the front office more acclaim for managing to bring him in for relative chump change.
The 76ers could be the envy of the league thanks to Anfernee Simons
Star-studded teams like the 76ers are not supposed to get high-caliber role players, much less those who would normally be clear-cut starters on other squads due to the new and restrictive CBA rules. That makes it massive for the franchise to have somemone like Simons on the roster, as they technically have another starter who is only on the bench due to the opening group only being able to accommodate five players.
The regular season has not yet commenced, but given Simons' ability to flip games with his three-level scoring, he is likely going to be a reason why the 76ers will win games despite off games from their starters. After all, he will be the catalyst on a much-improved second unit featuring a couple of new veterans and a flashy rookie scorer.
The other part that will get other teams jealous is that the 76ers basically snagged someone who can tone down the talent deficit when one of their starters is sidelined due to injury or rest. Nick Nurse can rest easy knowing that he has someone like Simons who has ample experience playing as a starter and producing like a fringe All-Star when given starter-level minutes.
There is a strong chance that the Simons signing will be something the rest of the league will look at when it is all said and done as the move that made the 76ers much more unbeatable. After all, their bench was one of their most fragile points in recent years, but with the guard now on board, that is already close to being a moot point.
If anything, the 76ers had a hell of a sleight of hand by signing Simons. Meanwhile, the rest of the league did not even pay that much attention and now stands to regret it.
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