Anfernee Simons is in a very interesting position. He has the chance to be the solution (or a big part of it) to one of the Philadelphia 76ers’ biggest on-court problems: A lack of three-point shooting. They have been one of the worst shooting teams in the league so far this year. Simons can help with that, but if he doesn’t, he could see his name thrown into trade rumors.
The Sixers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night was largely defined by the three-ball. Philly didn’t shoot well. Detroit, led by Duncan Robinson, did. And the Pistons were able to walk away with the win. Simons didn’t shoot the ball at a high clip. The game wasn’t his fault, but with his three-point touch, he can help be the answer moving forward.
But since he makes some of the most money on the team for a non-star, if he fails to live up to expectations, he could be a prime trade candidate for Philly at the deadline.
Anfernee Simons can help solve 76ers' three-point shooting
At the peak of his powers, Simons is one of the best three-point shooters in the league. He’s elite off the catch (moving off the ball) and can even get to his own shot with the ball in his hands.
That’s what the Sixers need him to be. When he’s on the court, the Sixers need him to knock down shots at a very high clip. They need him to space the floor for their stars.
LeBron James isn’t a great shooter. Neither is Jaylen Brown. Nor Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey is a great shooter, but he’ll have the ball in his hands a lot. VJ Edgecombe is still improving.
Philly is shooting just 31.7% from deep range this season. If that number persists throughout the entire campaign, it would be brutal. They can win without threes, but it makes life a lot harder.
Simons can help be the solution, but he could also be thrown on the trade block if he struggles. And that’s mostly because of the money he makes.
This year, Simons is making $6 million. That’s the sixth-most money of anyone on the Sixers roster. So, if they’re going to match salary in trades at the deadline, Simons would be a useful piece to throw into a deal.
If he’s not making shots, it would make it a lot easier for Philly to toss him into a trade. But if he is shooting the ball well, he could help them solve their three-point problem.
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