Philly Follows a Blockbuster Brown Trade by Snagging Another Celtic Alum

The Philadelphia 76ers just pulled off one of the wildest trades in recent NBA memory, landing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. And if you thought that was the end of the Celtics-to-Sixers pipeline? Nope. Not even close.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Sixers are signing guard Anfernee Simons to a two-year deal worth $12.3 million. The second year is a player option, which gives Simons some control if he outperforms the contract. He reportedly picked Philly over other teams because he sees a clean fit with this retooled roster.

Simons is a former Celtic himself. He was a late first-round pick by Boston in 2019 and spent parts of two seasons there before being traded. So yeah, the Sixers are basically raiding Boston’s old rolodex at this point.

Here’s the deal with Simons. He’s not a star but he’s a capable combo guard who can shoot from deep and play off the ball. At 25, he’s still young enough to develop into a reliable rotation piece. The Sixers needed depth in the backcourt after some offseason departures, and Simons fits that need without breaking the bank.

Philly’s front office has been aggressive since the Brown trade broke the internet. They’re clearly trying to build around Joel Embiid and Brown with shooters and ball-handlers who can create their own shot. Simons does a bit of both. He averaged around 10 points per game last season and shot 37% from three. That’s not elite but it’s solid for a bench role.

What’s interesting is that Simons turned down more money elsewhere. Charania reported he had multiple suitors. He chose the Sixers because he believes in what they’re building. That says something about the vibe in Philly right now. The Brown trade signaled a win-now mentality and players are taking notice.

The team has not confirmed the signing yet but it’s expected to be official once the league’s moratorium period lifts. More details on the contract structure should come out then.

One thing worth watching: how does this affect the Sixers’ cap flexibility going forward? They’re committed to Embiid and Brown on max deals, and Simons’ contract is small enough that it shouldn’t handcuff them. But every dollar matters when you’re trying to fill out a contender’s roster.

For now, Sixers fans have another reason to feel good about the direction of the team. The Brown trade was the headline but moves like this are what turn headlines into actual playoff runs.