2017 NBA free agency: 5 best remaining free agents
5. Jonathon Simmons
Jonathon Simmons has taken an unusual path to the NBA.
After going undrafted in 2012 out of the University of Houston, he signed with the Sugar Land Legends of the American Basketball League (fourth of its name). He averaged 36.5 points per game during his only year in the league.
Simmons then attended an open tryout for the Austin Toros in 2013, the San Antonio Spurs Developmental League team. He ended up making the team, the first player in two years to do so.
The former University of Houston product was ready to contribute as he posted a double-double in just his 22nd game by dropping 23 points and 17 rebounds.
The small forward went on to play another season for the Toros, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He turned that performance into a spot on the Nets’ Summer League roster in Orlando and then the Spurs’ team in Las Vegas.
Eventually, he played well enough to earn himself a full-time role with the team for the 2015-16 season.
After having played two seasons with the Spurs, Simmons is now a restricted free agent at 27 years old, and is looking at a big payday after breaking out in the playoffs against the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
Sporting News has this to say about the potential dollars Simmons could see from San Antonio:
"“The Spurs have not taken the “match-any-offer” path with Simmons, but they are expected to match reasonable offers, and sources indicated that they’d be willing to offer Simmons a contract in the range of $30 million over three years. Simmons is seeking an offer sheet that can beat that, and he has gotten interest from the Knicks and Kings, both of whom have the space to push Simmons into the three-year, $40 million range.”"
If the Houston native is able to garner a three-year, $40 million contract, it will be very hard for the Spurs to match that as they are already well over the salary cap.
Regardless of who ends up with Simmons, they will be getting a late-bloomer and someone who can contribute in multiple facets of the game. He can do a little scoring, rebounding, passing and basically anything a coach could want.