Chicago Bulls officially lost guard Anfernee Simons as he inked a two‑year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. The move caps a brief, injury‑marred stint in Chicago where Simons appeared in six games.
What happened?
Simons arrived in Chicago last season as part of the trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics. The full exchange sent Simons and a second‑round pick to the Bulls, while Vucevic and a second‑rounder headed to Boston. In Chicago, Simons started five of six games, averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while attempting 8.3 three‑pointers per contest. His three‑point percentage sat at 32% on those attempts.
A lingering left‑wrist fracture, first suffered with the Celtics and aggravated on February 21, 2026, forced Simons out for the remainder of the season. The injury explains his dip from the 39% three‑point shooting he posted over his first 49 Celtics games.
Why it matters for the Bulls?
The Bulls had a fleeting chance to keep Simons, but roster priorities shifted after they locked down All‑Star shooting guard Norman Powell on a two‑year, $45 million contract with a team option. Powell’s scoring reliability eclipses Simons’ inconsistent output, justifying the larger salary.
Chicago still carries roughly $9.4 million in mid‑level exception space. Management, led by executive vice president Bryson Graham, has already added Nic Claxton via trade, aiming to bolster interior defense without sacrificing assets. The front office now faces the task of filling the shooting‑guard void while preserving cap flexibility.
What’s next for Chicago?
The Bulls must decide whether to chase a veteran perimeter shooter or develop a stretch‑five to spread the floor. Their recent form offers little optimism: the last result was a 149‑128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on 2026‑04‑13, extending a 1W‑0D‑4L slide (LLLLW, most recent first). That streak underscores the urgency of adding reliable scoring.
Potential targets could include free‑agent sharpshooters or a trade for a proven combo guard. Any move will need to fit within the remaining cap space and complement the emerging core around DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and newly acquired Nic Claxton.
How does the 76ers’ acquisition fit?
Philadelphia gains a floor‑spacing guard who can fire off three‑point shots at a high volume—8.3 attempts per game in Chicago rank third in his career when projected over a full season. The 76ers, still reshaping after the Paul George‑Jaylen Brown trade, hope Simons restores perimeter balance.
Simons’ contract, two years at $12.3 million, reflects a modest gamble on upside. If his wrist heals fully, he could return to the 39% three‑point clip he displayed early in the 2025‑26 campaign with Boston.
The Bulls watch from Chicago, aware that losing Simons adds another piece to a puzzle that already includes a bruising loss streak and a need for consistent backcourt firepower.