Anfernee Simons hasn't played a game of NBA basketball since late February.
After getting traded to the Chicago Bulls from the Boston Celtics, the veteran guard suffered an aggravated wrist fracture that he has dealt with since his training camp run with the Celtics.
Knowing that this became a long-term issue throughout the season, one might worry about Simons' lack of action with the Philadelphia 76ers lately. He's reportedly in and out of training camp sessions, missed the Blue x White scrimmage, and was ruled out against the New York Knicks for the preseason opener on Monday night.
Now, you can tack on two more absences, as 76ers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that Simons would be ruled out for the next two preseason matchups against the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics.
The pro side of the setback
Obviously, there's no such thing as a positive setback, but the Sixers can find comfort in knowing that Simons' wrist has not been an issue so far this offseason.
With ample time to recover between February and October, Simons should be in good shape at this point on the wrist front. However, this new injury could end up being another nagging concern for the time being. According to Nick Nurse, Simons is dealing with a hamstring injury, which has prevented him from being a full participant in camp this week.
More setbacks to monitor
Hamstring injuries are always tricky. While Simons doesn't seem to be facing a long-term recovery with this setback, it's one the Sixers are going to have to closely monitor. They've been doing that for the past week or so, and Simons hasn't been able to get into full action.
That's a tough scenario for the new-look Sixers, who wanted to get most of their key players in action for at least a game or two during the preseason to shake some rust and build some chemistry.
Simons is joining the Sixers with a guaranteed role in the rotation. With eight years of experience, averaging 26.6 minutes per game on the court throughout his 444 appearances, Simons will be a key player for this Philadelphia team that watched him impress in 49 games off the bench with the Boston Celtics last season.
Going from a full-time starter in Portland to a sixth man on a contender, Simons averaged 14.2 points with 39.5% shooting from three, and dished out 2.4 assists per game. The 76ers are wise to play it safe early on. The hope is that this injury doesn't linger for too long.
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