The Orlando Magic and former San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Jonathon Simmons reached an agreement on a three-year contract. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, financial details weren't immediately available. Simmons agreed with the Magic one day after the Spurs renounced their rights on him, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Previously, teams were having second thoughts about giving him an offer sheet as the Spurs have the right to match it.
Earlier, Simmons’ agent, Cervando Tejeda, said the Spurs stopped negotiations so they turned their full focus on signing elsewhere.
Simmons and the Magic finalized an agreement Friday. The Spurs did not offer Simmons their Early Bird exception, which would give him an $8.4 million annual salary as a restricted free agent with a 4.5 percent increase the next year.
The new contract will give Simmons financial stability in his NBA career. An undrafted free agent out University of Houston in 2012, he eventually made it to the NBA after trying out with San Antonio’s D-League affiliate – the Austin Toros. It was reported that 12 teams were interested in Simmons’ services, including the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.
New contract gives Simmons financial stability
In two seasons with the Spurs, the 27-year-old Simmons tallied 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 133 appearances, with just 10 starts.
However, he stepped up for the Spurs when needed, averaging 10.5 points, especially during last year’s playoffs when Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker went down with injuries.
Aside from his scoring, Simmons is also known for his defense, ranking eighth among shooting guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus during the 2016-17 season.
With the Magic, Simmons is expected to play a bigger role and more minutes at shooting guard and small forward.
Spurs to look to Anderson to step up
With Simmons now gone, the Spurs will have to rely to Kyle Anderson to step up next season to fill the void left by the shooting guard. Last season, Anderson averaged just 14.2 minutes.
Bryn Forbes is another option for coach Gregg Popovich. Forbes was a revelation in the 2017 Summer League, scoring 99 points in his last three games.
The Spurs could also use Brandon Paul, whom they signed to a contract recently. Paul played in Turkey last year and suited up for the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Orlando Summer League and Las Vegas Summer League, respectively. In four games with the Mavericks, he averaged 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while he tallied 14.3 points and 5.0 boards in three games with the Cavaliers.
