The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as suitors for free agent guard Anfernee Simons as of July 2, 2026, aiming to address a critical need for backcourt scoring.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas faces intense competition from the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat for the veteran scorer.
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Simons concluded the previous season with the Chicago Bulls after averaging 14.3 points per game across 49 games with the Boston Celtics and six appearances with Chicago.
Prior to his stints in Boston and Chicago, the 27-year-old guard averaged 20.7 points per game over three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2022 to 2025.
The guard was traded to Boston during the 2025 offseason as part of the Jrue Holiday transaction and was subsequently moved to the Bulls as the Celtics sought luxury tax relief.
Dallas possesses a distinct organizational connection to Simons through its new general manager, Mike Schmitz, who previously served as an assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Simons, a career 38.1 percent three-point shooter, offers positional versatility at 6 feet 3 inches, allowing him to share the backcourt with Kyrie Irving or manage primary ball-handling duties.
This shooting efficiency directly targets an area of improvement identified by the Mavericks for the upcoming season.
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The Miami Heat entered the pursuit after a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo depleted their backcourt depth, sending Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakuciunas to the Milwaukee Bucks.
