Much of the talk surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers focuses on how the roster's superstars must become a cohesive team to stand any chance of being championship contenders. The Sixers will need more than that to dismantle the likes of the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs over a seven-game series. Offensive impact from their secondary unit will be critical to success -- with Anfernee Simons leading the charge.
Simons can solve the 76ers' bench woes
If it wasn't for Quentin Grimes' production last year, Philadelphia would have arguably boasted the least effective bench in the Eastern Conference, maybe even the entire league. The 76ers averaged just 32.4 points per game in bench scoring -- ranking 27th in the NBA.
A franchise with championship ambitions can't just rely on its starting five to get them over the line night in, night out; the team needs contributions from several different weapons. Due to the lack of roster depth in recent years, this has not been an area in which Philadelphia has thrived. Now, that could all be set to change.
The acquisition of Anfernee Simons doesn't just provide the 76ers with a genuine scoring talent; it provides an option who has no qualms about playing a secondary role. Simons knows how to chalk up points even when his capacity is limited.
His time with the Boston Celtics during the 2025-26 season showcased just how important the 27-year-old could be in the City of Philadelphia. Simons didn't start in any of his 49 appearances for the Celtics, but still averaged 14.2 points per game across 24.5 minutes.
Philadelphia could be overly reliant on Simons' production
There is no denying that the Philadelphia 76ers' roster is now deeper and more talented than ever before. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey are just a few names on this team who would walk into any lineup in the league. While the Sixers do have exciting bench options, few have the resume suggesting they are a prolific offensive presence.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dean Wade became an essential part of their defensive blueprint. The statistics may not show it (0.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game), but Wade was a nightmare matchup for every foe he faced, allowing the Cavaliers to ride out the minutes when their main options were resting. However, despite showing his scoring prowess in certain fixtures, his offensive acumen is not at the level required to compete with the league's top teams.
Additionally, Labaron Philon Jr's inexperience in the NBA will undoubtedly lead to inconsistencies and errors that could cost the 76ers important games. Because of this, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse could opt to reduce his role entirely and give a larger chunk of minutes to other options.
Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are simply on the roster to fill the void that Joel Embiid will leave behind when either unavailable for selection or fatigued. Their role will be to solidify Philadelphia defensively and allow the other stars surrounding them to shine.
The Philadelphia 76ers may now have a deeper rotation, but their bench firepower is pretty limited. If the franchise has any hopes of a championship tilt, Anfernee Simons must establish himself as a frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year award. If not, the Sixers will face some brutal stretches when their stars are taking a much-needed rest.
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