Storyline: 76s can’t afford another questionable draft. My pick: LSU’s Ben Simmons. He’s an elite athlete with vision and playmaking skills. Written by Taylor Odenat. Follow Taylor @TDSSports.
With the regular season rapidly coming to a close, teams are preparing to welcome roster additions by way of the 2016 NBA Draft. Several teams will make Lottery Picks, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76s.
The 76ers will ultimately finish with the worst record in the league–managing only 9 wins over the course of 77 games. Philly will have the highest probability at landing the No.1 overall pick, but that’s no guarantee that they will get that pick.
Nerlens Noel (photo, bleacherreport.com)
Philadelphia has selected centers for three straight years, all of whom were top-10 picks. Nerlens Noel, drafted in 2013 out of Kentucky, has proven himself to be a defensive stud, but has durability issues. Former KU one-and-done big man, Joel Embiid, has yet to see the court since being drafted. And Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, a major offensive weapon who has proven he can score in the post, has troublesome maturity issues.
The 76ers can’t handle another incorrect draft decision. They must bolster a roster that currently isn’t fit to compete consistently in either conference.
They might look at OU’s Buddy Hield for three-point shooting, Utah’s Jakob Poeltl to indulge their love of centers, or Providence’s Kris Dunn for use of a floor general. But none of those players is at the level of two players that I believe Philly should consider taking: Duke’s Brandon Ingram and LSU’s Ben Simmons in the Draft.
Ingram is a 6’9’’ forward with above-average ball handling, the ability to shoot spot-up or off-the-dribble, and the length to bother shots. He has been compared to Kevin Durant with his slim frame and scoring arsenal for his size. While he’s only 18 years of age and has time to bulk up, that slender build might be a red flag. His weight–currently 195 pounds–will give him difficulty finishing among the trees in the NBA.
Ben Simmons (photo, nola.com)
The other top option is Simmons. Simmons is the most complete player in this draft class. He can rebound (11.8 r.p.g.), is a superb passer (4.8 dimes per), and is an efficient scorer (19.3 p.p.g. on 56% shooting). The question is whether Simmons has that killer instinct. He was unable to guide his team to the NCAA tournament, which raises questions about his leadership. Nevertheless, Simmons has a high basketball IQ. While killer instinct is hard to teach–arguably unteachable–so, too, is innate knowledge of the game.
I think the right move is to take Simmons with the #1 overall pick. Every player on the Philadelphia roster will benefit from playing with him. He’s extremely versatile. And while his jump shot might not be super dependable, he’s still an elite athlete with vision and playmaking skills.
The 76ers need a savior. Simmons could be the player to finally guide them towards the light.
