Simpkins, a seven-year NBA veteran who also had stints with the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks, is scheduled to plane in tomorrow to replace Leon Derricks as the Aces’ import.
He may no longer be a spring chicken at 32, but his experience and familiarity with the triangle offense could well key an Alaska turnaround from its woeful start in the season-ending tourney.
A product of Providence University and picked 21st overall by Chicago in the 1994 draft, Simpkins spent five NBA seasons working in coach Phil Jackson’s triangle system with Michael Jordan and the rest of the Bulls team.
It’s no secret that coach Tim Cone applies the same strategy with his Aces.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward averaged 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in his NBA career marked by personal highs of 21 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and the same number of steals.
He appeared in 13 NBA playoff games, totaling 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Left unsigned by the Atlanta Hawks at the end of the 2001-2002 season, Simpkins drifted in different minor leagues and had tour of duties in Puerto Rico, Latvia and Spain.
He suited up with the Dakota Wizards in the last CBA campaign before hooking up with the Plus Pujol club in the Spanish league.
If he makes it here Monday, Simpkins will have more than enough time to acclimatize with the local weather and bond with his teammates before finally debuting with Alaska versus Talk n Text in a road game in Cagayan de Oro on March 31.
Alaska is expected to go all out to beat Talk n Text, which coach Tim Cone alleged to have ruined their bid to bring in original prospect Gene Shipley. Talk n Text officials denied Cone’s allegations.
Alaska had gone 0-3 before chalking up its first win in the tourney at the expense of Shell ironically in what had become Derricks’ farewell game with the team Friday.
Derricks proved to be a mediocre player, dishing out so-so performances in four outings in the local pro league.