Philly outbids Warriors and Heat to land the sharpshooter on a low-risk, high-upside contract using the mid-level exception.
3 million contract, beating out competing offers from the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. The Sixers used the remainder of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to land the 25-year-old guard, adding a proven scorer to a backcourt in need of spacing. The deal comes with minimal long-term risk.
15 million per season, Simons’ contract fits neatly under the NBA’s hard cap, preserving flexibility for Philadelphia to pursue further upgrades around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 9% career three-point shooting profile aligns with that need. Health remains a lingering question.
Simons missed the final six games of his lone season with the Chicago Bulls after undergoing surgery for a right wrist injury in January 2024. His availability for training camp and the regular season opener will be closely monitored, but the Sixers are banking on a full recovery given his offensive upside. Reaction from league insiders underscored the low-risk nature of the move.
Shams Charania reported the deal was finalized late Saturday, with multiple teams—including the Dallas Mavericks—also expressing interest before Philly’s offer was accepted. The Warriors, who had extended a minimum-salary offer, were quickly outmaneuvered by the Sixers’ structured approach. The financial engineering here is sharp.
By utilizing the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, Philadelphia avoids triggering the hard cap penalties that would have handcuffed future moves. Simons represents a "buy-low" asset; his market value was depressed by the wrist injury, allowing a contender to acquire a high-volume scorer on a reserve-friendly salary. If he returns to form, this contract becomes one of the league's most valuable trade chips or a bargain retention piece, providing high-end offensive production for the cost of a role player.
This signing also highlights a shift in the Sixers' roster-building philosophy. Instead of chasing aging stars on maximum contracts, the front office is targeting high-upside youth on short-term deals to complement their core. The decision to spurn the Warriors and Heat suggests Simons prioritized a clear path to minutes and a primary scoring role off the bench over a potential championship pursuit in a crowded rotation.
Philadelphia is betting that the change of scenery and a stable medical staff will unlock the consistency that eluded him in Chicago. The Sixers’ move for Simons also reflects a broader trend in the NBA: the premium on three-point shooting and roster flexibility. 9% career three-point shooter addresses a critical weakness.
Last season, the Sixers ranked 22nd in three-point percentage, and their offense often stagnated in the playoffs due to a lack of reliable outside threats. Simons’ ability to stretch the floor could create more driving lanes for Maxey and reduce double-teams on Embiid, amplifying the entire offense. Additionally, this deal underscores the importance of medical due diligence in modern roster construction.
While Simons’ wrist injury depressed his market value, the Sixers’ confidence in their medical staff’s ability to manage his recovery was a deciding factor. 3 points per game in 2022-23—this contract could look like a steal. However, if health issues persist, the short-term nature of the deal limits the downside, allowing Philly to pivot without long-term consequences.
What’s next: Philadelphia will now turn its focus to roster construction around Embiid and Maxey. The Sixers have roughly $10 million in cap space remaining but could explore additional trades or signings to bolster the frontcourt. Training camp begins in late September, with Simons’ health status a key storyline to watch as the team eyes a deeper playoff run. Read at Hoops Rumors
The Sixers added a high-volume shooter without compromising financial flexibility, fitting Simons’ contract under the hard cap. This move signals Philadelphia’s commitment to surrounding its stars with elite spacing for a championship push, while mitigating long-term cap damage. For Simons, it’s a career-saving payday on a team with clear upside—provided he stays healthy. This acquisition addresses a critical spacing deficiency that plagued the offense last season, offering a low-stakes gamble on a former lottery pick who could evolve into a crucial secondary scoring option alongside Joel Embiid.
Hoops Rumorshoopsrumors.comBy Arthur HillJul 2, 6:28 PMen-US
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