Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls
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Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan looks on during a game against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Chicago Bulls are getting set for a road matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, March 25.
Heading into the game, the Bulls made a slight change to the status of Anfernee Simons on the injury report. He is listed as doubtful against the Sixers.
The veteran guard has a chance to play, but it’s a slim one. While that doesn’t inspire much hope about his status for Wednesday’s action, it’s a sign from the Bulls that the trade pickup is moving in the right direction.
Simons is dealing with a fractured wrist and hasn’t played since the Bulls’ February 21 game against the Detroit Pistons.
The Sixers and the Bulls tip off at 7 PM ET.
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 19: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket as Anfernee Simons #22 of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at the United Center on February 19, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
The Bulls Need More Out Of Anfernee Simons
When Chicago made its decision to trade for Anfernee Simons, who came over after a brief stint with the Boston Celtics, the move wasn’t for instant winning.
The Bulls were making several trades that signaled they were heading towards a rebuild. Sending Nikola Vucevic to a contender was simply the right thing to do. Acquiring a high-upside 26-year-old guard in Simons was an opportunity to see if the former first-rounder is worth a long-term investment.
The final stretch of games from the February deadline until mid-April was supposed to serve as a showcase opportunity for Simons in Chicago. Instead, it has turned into a recovery period, as he suffered an injury just six games into his run.
When will Simons return to action? He doesn’t have an exact date, but a slight change on the injury report suggests he could return at some point.
Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 26: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
A Look At Simons’ Rise In The NBA
In 2018, Simons landed with the Portland Trail Blazers as the 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft. He landed in the league without college experience.
Simons would spend seven seasons with the Blazers, seeing the court for nearly 400 games. He became a full-time starter in Portland during the 2022-2023 season.
Throughout his time in Portland, Simons averaged 15.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds. He shot the ball at a 43.1% clip from the field. He knocked down 38.1% of his threes, taking 6.5 attempts per game.
During the 2025 offseason, the Celtics acquired Simons from the Blazers in a cost-cutting move to get Jrue Holiday’s contract off the books. As expected, the Celtics flipped Simons for a big man.
Simons left the Celtics after shooting 39.5% from deep, averaging 14.2 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.
With the Bulls so far, Simons has produced 15.2 points per game, while making 43.8% of his shots from the field. He has appeared in just six games.
If Simons doesn’t return to face the Sixers on Wednesday night, his next opportunity to play will come on Friday, March 27, when the Bulls face the Oklahoma City Thunder.