Sports
Report: Anfernee Simons, 76ers agree to 2-year contract
Feb 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Anfernee Simons (22) shoots against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images A day after reportedly acquiring former NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brown from the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with free agent guard Anfernee Simons, ESPN reported on Thursday.
Simons, 27, who played with Brown in Boston last season, will have a player option in the second season, per the report.
In the reported Brown deal, the Sixers will send veteran forward Paul George to the Celtics along with first-round picks in 2028 and 2031 and second-round picks in 2028 and 2030.
Simons joined the Celtics last July in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, and averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range in 49 games.
Simons was on the move again in February, dealt to the Bulls in exchange for forward Nikola Vucevic, but a left wrist injury limited the guard to just six games with Chicago before ending his season. For the season, Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 55 games (five starts).
A first-round pick (No. 24 overall) of the Trail Blazers in the 2018 draft, Simons will give the Sixers’ bench an offensive lift it was lacking last season. He has averaged at least 17 ppg four times and is a career 38.5% 3-point shooter.
Over eight NBA seasons, Simons has averaged 14.9 ppg, 3.2 apg and 2.5 rpg in 444 games (218 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers' NBA title odds soar, Celtics' plummet with Jaylen Brown trade
76ers center Joel Embiid and Celtics guard Jaylen Brown following a playoff game on May 2, 2026. The Boston Celtics’ trade of star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers is the latest offseason blockbuster to send sportsbooks scrambling to adjust their NBA futures.
The Celtics were in the mix to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks late last month, but when the Greek Freak landed in Miami instead, the Heat’s odds of winning the 2026-27 NBA title shortened from +3000 to +1800. With the Celtics deciding to hold onto Brown at the time, their odds held steady at +650 at BetMGM.
That all changed after news broke Wednesday that Boston reversed course and traded Brown to division rival Philadelphia in exchange for aging veteran Paul George and a package of draft picks. The Celtics’ title odds immediately plummeted to +1400 while their odds of winning the Eastern Conference went from +260 to +450.
Conversely, the 76ers went from +6600 long shots to win the title next season to +2000 after acquiring Brown. BetMGM reported that 35% of all bets and 40% of all money wagered on next year’s champion has backed Philadelphia since the trade.
The 76ers also went from +2000 to +700 to win the Eastern Conference, with 54% of the bets and 68% of the money backing them. The reigning champion New York Knicks are the Eastern Conference favorites at +325, followed by the Celtics at +450 and then the 76ers ahead of the Detroit Pistons at +750.
The Los Angeles Lakers also made a flurry of moves Tuesday, led by the acquisition of center Walker Kessler from Utah. Los Angeles went from +4000 to +3000 to win the NBA title and from +2200 to +1600 to win the Western Conference, where they remain behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio at +150, Minnesota at +1200 and Denver at +1300.
Another significant shift saw the Toronto Raptors’ title odds shorten all the way to +2200 by agreeing to a deal earlier this week that will bring Kawhi Leonard back to the franchise.
2026-27 NBA TITLE ODDS*
Team | Opening Odds | Last Week | Wednesday | Current
Oklahoma City Thunder (+260), (+260), (+260), (+260)
San Antonio Spurs (+270), (+260), (+260), (+260)
New York Knicks (+700), (+750), (+800), (+900)
Boston Celtics (+700), (+650), (+700), (+1400)
Philadelphia 76ers (+6000), (+6000), (+6600), (+2000)
Toronto Raptors (+15000), (+12500), (+2200), (+2200)
Miami Heat (+3500), (+1800), (+2200), (+2500)
Detroit Pistons (+3300), (+2500), (+2500), (+2500)
Denver Nuggets (+2000), (+2500), (+2500), (+2500)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+2500), (+3000), (+2200), (+2500)
Golden State Warriors (+6600), (+6000), (+3000), (+3000)
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3300), (+4000), (+3000), (+3000)
Los Angeles Lakers (+2500), (+2500), (+4000), (+3000)
Indiana Pacers (+3000), (+4000), (+4000), (+4000)
Houston Rockets (+6600), (+6000), (+6000), (+6000)
Atlanta Hawks (+10000), (+8000), (+8000), (+8000)
Portland Trail Blazers (+8000), (+10000), (+8000), (+8000)
Orlando Magic, (+5000), (+8000), (+8000), (+8000)
Charlotte Hornets (+10000), (+8000), (+12500), (+12500)
Dallas Mavericks (+8000), (+15000), (+20000), (+20000)
Utah Jazz (+15000), (+25000), (+15000), (+20000)
Washington Wizards (+15000), (+20000), (+20000), (+20000)
Milwaukee Bucks (+25000), (+30000), (+50000), (+50000)
Chicago Bulls (+75000), (+75000), (+75000), (+75000)
Brooklyn Nets (+100000), (+50000), (+75000), (+75000)
Phoenix Suns (+8000), (+15000), (+12500), (+12500)
Los Angeles Clippers (+6600), (+10000), (+20000), (+50000)
New Orleans Pelicans (+25000), (+50000), (+50000), (+50000)
Memphis Grizzlies (+50000), (+50000), (+75000), (+75000)
Sacramento Kings (+75000), (+75000), (+100000), (+100000)
The next big seismic move in the NBA futures is likely to come with LeBron James’ decision on where he will play next season.
The Warriors have been backed by the most title bets (15.7%) and money (12.5%) following reports that James might be considering linking up with Stephen Curry in Golden State. However, several teams are reportedly in the running for James, with the other two most popular title futures backing the 76ers at 8.8% and 9.4%, respectively, and the Cleveland Cavaliers with 6.8% and 8.9% of the action.
While the book reported the Warriors being backed by the highest percentage of total title bets, the Thunder remain supported by the most total money at 32.0%.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Three Fever players named All-Star Game starters
Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston (7), Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) take a phot before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Three Indiana Fever players were among the 10 starters announced Thursday for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell will represent Indiana at the July 25 showcase in Chicago.
Guards Clark and Mitchell will be joined in the backcourt by the Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers and Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.
Joining Boston in the frontcourt are four-time league MVP A’Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Natasha Howard of the Lynx, Jessica Shepard of the Wings, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries.
Starters were selected by a mixture of fan, player and media votes. The fan vote ran from June 11-27 and counted for 50% and the media and player votes were 25% each.
Wilson and Stewart earned their eighth All-Star selections. It is the fourth for Mitchell and Boston and the third for Howard and Clark, who missed last year’s contest due to injury. Williams and Bueckers were honored for the second time while Miles and Shepard will make their All-Star debuts.
The league’s head coaches will vote for the All-Star reserves. The two head coaches for the All-Star Game will be determined by which two teams have the best records at the end of play on July 10.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Crew sign La Liga vet Brais Mendez as designated player
Sep 13, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; General view of a practice balls prior to the game between Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images The Columbus Crew acquired Spanish midfielder Brais Mendez from La Liga side Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Mendez, 29, arrives as a designated player and will occupy an international roster slot. He is signed through 2028-29 with a club option for the 2029-30 season.
“We are excited to add Brais to our team and welcome him to Columbus. His high-level technical skill set and understanding of the game, displayed in one of the best leagues in the world, will have a positive impact on our roster,” said Crew general manager Issa Tall. “The addition of Brais gives our team another talented player for the short- and long-term, and we look forward to his arrival as we look to push during the second part of our season.”
Technical brilliance and game-breaking ability. Bienvenido al club, Brais Méndez ??
The Columbus Crew have acquired Brais Méndez as a Designated Player from La Liga’s Real Sociedad.
??: https://t.co/LMKoXqK2xu pic.twitter.com/iOXJTZPM65
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 2, 2026
Mendez joins MLS after a decade in the Spanish top flight with Celta Vigo (2017-22) and Real Sociedad (2022-26).
He tallied 33 goals and 24 assists in 166 matches with Real Sociedad, helping the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League after the 2022-23 season and win the Copa Del Rey title earlier this year.
Mendez contributed 22 goals and 18 assists in 166 matches with boyhood club Celta Vigo.
Columbus entered the FIFA World Cup break in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, two points below the playoff line. The Crew return to action at home against New York City FC on July 22.
–Field Level Media
76ers' NBA title odds soar, Celtics' plummet with Jaylen Brown trade
Three Fever players named All-Star Game starters
