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Simons Snubs Warriors, 76ers Instantly Regret It
Anfernee Simons’ Big Decision: Why Joining the 76ers Might Be a Mistake
The Simple Story
Imagine you’re really good at basketball—like, score-20-points-a-game good. You become a free agent, which means you can choose any team to play for. Two teams want you:
- Golden State Warriors – They really need scoring help because their star player is hurt
- Philadelphia 76ers – They already have tons of superstars
You pick Philadelphia quickly, without waiting to see what other superstars might do. Then—surprise!—two MORE huge stars join Philadelphia. Suddenly, you’re the sixth option on offense instead of the third option you would’ve been elsewhere.
That’s exactly what happened to Anfernee Simons.
What Actually Happened? (Step by Step)
- Free agency starts – Simons can sign with any team
- Warriors show interest – Golden State wants him badly
- Simons says "No" to Warriors – He chooses Philadelphia instead
- Signs 2-year, $12.3 million deal with the 76ers
- LeBron James joins 76ers – The 41-year-old legend signs there too
- Jaylen Brown joins 76ers – Another All-Star arrives
- Simons buried in rotation – Now 6th scoring option at best
Why the Warriors Made Sense
KEY POINT: The Warriors had a massive hole in their offense that Simons fits perfectly.
| Warriors Situation | Why Simons Fits |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Butler tore his ACL (out long-term) | Team desperately needs scoring |
| Stephen Curry is 38 years old | Can’t carry all the scoring load |
| Kristaps Porzingis is injury-prone | Unreliable as #2 option |
| Result | Simons would be #3 scorer immediately |
In plain English: Golden State needed him. Philadelphia already had too many scorers.
Why Philadelphia Is Problematic
The "Embarrassment of Riches" Problem
The 76ers now have SIX proven scorers ahead of Simons:
- Joel Embiid – MVP-caliber center
- LeBron James – All-time leading scorer
- Jaylen Brown – All-Star wing
- Tyrese Maxey – Rising star guard
- V.J. Edgecombe – High draft pick
- Anfernee Simons – 6th option at best
What This Means for Simons
- Fewer shots = fewer points
- Fewer points = smaller next contract
- Current deal: 2 years, $12.3M
- Potential value: $15-20M+ per year (what he earned in Portland)
- Path to that money: Much harder in Philly
The "Rushed Decision" Factor
IMPORTANT: The article emphasizes Simons didn’t wait for LeBron’s decision.
Timeline of mistakes:
- Signed early in free agency
- Didn’t wait to see where LeBron would go
- Rejected Warriors before knowing 76ers’ full roster
- Now stuck behind 5+ All-Stars
Analogy: It’s like accepting a job offer on Monday, then finding out Tuesday your new boss hired three more people for your exact same role.
What "Middling Warrior Team" Means
The article mentions the Warriors might "struggle to even make the Play-In Tournament." Let’s translate:
- Play-In Tournament = The "almost playoffs" for teams ranked 7th-10th
- Middling = Average, not great, not terrible
- Health luck = Staying injury-free (Warriors have been unlucky lately)
Translation: Golden State might not be a championship team right now—but they needed Simons badly, which means playing time and stats.
Summary: The Core Conflict
| Factor | Warriors Offer | 76ers Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Role | 3rd option, heavy minutes | 6th option, spot minutes |
| Shots per game | 15-18+ | 8-12 (when healthy) |
| Next contract leverage | High (prove you’re still 20 PPG guy) | Low (can’t prove it riding bench) |
| Championship chance | Lower (older roster) | Higher (stacked roster) |
| Simons’ priority | Money & role (mid-career) | Ring-chasing (but as spectator) |
Bottom line: If Simons wants one more big payday, he picked the wrong team. If he only wants a ring, he picked the right one—but might not play much in the Finals.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Why would Simons reject the Warriors for less money?
The 76ers deal is 2 years, $12.3M. We don’t know the exact Warriors offer, but Simons likely prioritized championship contention over role/money. The 76ers are legitimate title favorites.
Can’t he still get a big contract after this 2-year deal?
Much harder now. NBA teams pay for production (points, efficiency, usage). Riding the bench behind 5 All-Stars = no production = no leverage. He’d need injuries to stars to get minutes.
Isn’t LeBron 41? How much does he really play?
Great question! LeBron played 71 games last year at age 40. But even 20-25 minutes of LeBron + Embiid + Maxey + Brown + Edgecombe leaves crumbs for Simons.
What if Embiid or LeBron gets hurt?
Then Simons gets minutes! But that’s betting on injuries—not a reliable career strategy. And even then, he’s behind Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe.
Did the Warriors actually make a formal offer?
Per the article: Yes. Reporter Bonta Hill said on a podcast: "Simons said no to the Warriors. Simons was like, ‘I’d rather go to Philadelphia.’" This suggests real interest, not just "kicking tires."
Final Thought
Anfernee Simons bet on a ring. He might get one. But he probably cost himself $10-15 million in future earnings.
In the NBA, you get paid for what you do, not what team you’re on. Simons chose a team where he’ll do very little.
The Lesson: Sometimes the "better team" is the worse choice for your career. Know your priorities—and don’t rush the biggest decision of your professional life.
