Jonathon Simmons did not get along with Gregg Popovich?

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twan83

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Here is why he left

Jonathon Simmons walked out of a gym on Friday afternoon with a better understanding of what the NBA is all about.

Simmons had just agreed to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Orlando Magic, one day after having his qualifying offer pulled from the Spurs and becoming an unrestricted free agent.

"It just business," Simmons told the Express-News. "It's not disappointing to me at all. That's just how it is. ... I wasn't disappointed about anything. I believe everything happened for a reason.

"I'm really not surprised," Simmons continued. "I didn't know what to expect. I was just trying to take it a day at a time and see what the opportunity was going to be."


Yes, it's a business. Simmons found that out firsthand.

The 27-year-old Houston native walked into free agency with the intentions of securing a deal of at least $50 million. But it has not been a good offseason for many restricted free agents.


Like Simmons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nikola Mirotic, JaMychal Green, Alex Len, even Spurs newcomer Joffrey Lauvergne have all realized how rigid the restricted market is.

"No one expected it to be this tough," said Simmons. "A guy like me still has to deal with politics at the end of the day. I was a low-tier guy still, after what I did, it still wasn't enough. I know that. I was expecting more, but I'm happy. It's $20 million. People don't get that every day."

Simmons averaged 6.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 78 games with the Spurs last season. He admitted playing time was a factor in deciding his next location. Though Simmons played 78 games last season, eight times as a starter, and averaged 17.8 minutes, the competitor in Simmons wanted more.

"I want to be in position to play a decent amount of minutes per game," said Simmons. "I feel like I can excel playing enough minutes per game. I explained that to Pop (Gregg Popovich) and he understand that. ... I want to be able to continue to improve and still make a name for myself and I wasn't going to do that (with the Spurs). Not like I wanted to."

Asked why he felt the Magic was a good choice, Simmons said the opportunity to become a better impact player was too good to pass up.

"I have goals and I'm trying to attack them," said Simmons. "I think Orlando is the perfect place to do that."

Though his time with the Spurs officially ended, Simmons has no hard feelings. He recalled Game 6 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, a game he considers the most memorable as a Spur.

With no Tony Parker or Kawhi Leonard, Simmons received his first career postseason start, finishing with 18 points and four assists. In front of his family and friends at the Toyota Center in Houston, he helped the Spurs eliminate the Rockets to advance to the conference finals.

"That was the one," said Simmons of the game. "It was surreal."

A new chapter awaits in Orlando, where Simmons will see a familiar face in Chad Forcier, a former Spurs assistant and current lead assistant for the Magic.

Simmons now understands the business side of the NBA. It's not always pretty. But for a guy who paid $150 in 2013 for a tryout in the NBA Gatorade League(formerly the D-League), and now on the verge of earning $6.6 million over the next three years, life isn't all bad.

"I was able to get better," said Simmons when asked to sum up his time with the Spurs. "I was able to start my career with a great organization. I couldn't ask for better people to be around. ... Definitely loved my time there."
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Simmons on new deal: 'It's a business'; happy with $20 million contract
 
L. Deezy

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ISO said:
Simmons can't do any of those things either, great story, great athlete but vastly overrated and most NBA fans are fooled into thinking he's some young guy when he's turning 28. Simmons gets sloppy sometimes with the ball handling turnovers he's not a natural ball handler and he shot 29% from 3.

Simmons and Pop probably clashed because of playing time and Simmons alley-oop staredowns and celebrations, we all know Pop is an old school military curmudgeon coach. :shaq2:
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yeah, but every team needs a hungry HUSTLE guy. He fits that to mold to a T. I wish OKC would have got him.
 
richtree

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duckbutta said:
Maybe...last year he randomly went from playing a lot in the second unit to not playing at all so that kyle anderson could get his minutes and score 14 points in 3 games with them...

He was also sit down pretty quick when he would get sloppy with the ball...and sometimes he would...he actually would a lot...

I am a SImmons stan and I wouldn't have a problem with paying dude up to 12 million a year...problem is I was under the assumption that Danny would be gone cause you know...he is a 30 year old professional basketball player who can't dribble or pass or shoot half the time...and Simmons would be starting...cause he can do all 3...

Doesn't seem like that is happening and all of a sudden I don't even know what SImmons place is on this team...

They signed Rudy Gay so all the minutes SImmons got at the 3 are gone...

Signed Patty back he is locked into that backup PG spot no minutes there...

Signed Brandon Paul who is literally a 2 year younger version of Simmons...and I feel like the Spurs feel like "we turned Simmons into a decent nba player coming up from the d league we can do the same thing again" (I actually think this is how the Spurs are going to operate going forward but that is another story for another thread)

Bryn Forbes is the leading scorer in summer league and is pretty much doing the best Steph Curry impression I have seen since Steph became an MVP player...

So with Danny still here he not going to start...with Gay still here he won't be playing the 3...and all of a sudden the spurs still have 1 year of Tony left who is going to play this year for legacy reason like how they keptt trotting the corpse of manu out there in that grizzlies series even though it took him 3 games to score one basket......Forbes playing out of his mind so you can't NOT have him on the roster opening not if he keeps playing like this...and the team still trying to decide if they going to turn the keys of the point guard Kingdom over to Dejounte...and Derrick white has looked okay...and Derrick White can play some two...

Didn't even get into if Manu is coming back...if he is lock him into 12 to 15 minuets a night...

All of a sudden you go from a position to where you might be a starter or at worse a backup 2 and 3 to all of a sudden the spurs have to many perimeter players on the team...
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One of the best posts I've seen in a minute ..
I wish Simmons all the best!
 
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