Ben Simmons NBA Draft Fits: Where Should He Go?
By Andrey Burin
After a season of scrutiny from both NBA scouts and fans alike, Ben Simmons has been hailed by many as the most talented player in this year’s draft. Following Thursday’s NBA Draft, we will know with which team he will be launching his professional career.
Ben Simmons is not the typical prospect. He is a 6’10”, 19-year-old point forward with the dribbling chops and passing ability to be an offense’s primary ball-handler. His pairing of elite acceleration and seemingly natural basketball awareness allows him to routinely out-jump opposing bigs, pull down the orange and translate ordinary defensive boards into graceful, galloping Kevin Durant-like sprints up the court (these runs are typically punctuated by layups, thrashing dunks or pinpoint passes).
Defensively, he is a greedy rebounder, whose size and athleticism led to a long reel of chase down blocks and defensive stops in the post throughout his year as an LSU Tiger. In addition to his atypical combination of stature and scoring skill, some NBA pundits have called his talent as a distributor and point forward “Lebron-esque”. Presented with this description and a highlight tape, most would be quick to say “draft him.”
Accordingly, he has been dubbed by most mock drafters as the presumptive first pick. Simmons would be the first lottery pick out of LSU in nearly ten years and the first No.1 since Shaquille O’Neal in 1992.
Simmons’ natural talent and athleticism make an obvious argument for him as the first selection. However, even an exceptionally talented player thrust into a team where he is a poor fit can lead to failure—both individually and as a team. Thus, we will examine how well he would fit on a few of the teams holding picks 1-5 and how likely he is to end up there.
2015-16 Regular Season Record (10-72)
This year’s incarnation of the 76ers was as historically terrible as the Warriors were great. Withstanding the fact that Philadelphia has had the luxury of a lottery pick every draft for the last three seasons, little has gone well for the Sixers the last few seasons.
Their roster is already packed with (potentially) great big men (Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor)—all three of whom have had injury problems, with former Kansas star Joel Embiid yet to play an NBA game. Many assume that Simmons will be the default first pick thanks to freakish physical gifts as well as his high basketball IQ.
However, it is really hard to say how he would fit into the transient group of former D-Leaguers and little-known draft picks that has constituted the 76ers roster over the last few years. It is clear that bucking the trend of injured big men would be a good start.
Fit: Injuries and GM decisions/coaching staff will determine how well he fits.
Chances: Very High
2015-16 Regular Season Record (17-65)
Starting around the time that the Tigers’ season came to an end, rumors have circulated of Ben Simmons possibly wanting to “pull a Kobe” and force his way on to the Los Angeles Lakers, regardless of where the numbers fell during the NBA draft lottery. With Mr. Bryant himself having officially retired following this last season, it would be timely.
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The Lakers too, like the Sixers, ran little in terms of a consistent offensive scheme this past season—L.A. being plagued by a season-long retirement party as opposed to injuries. Unlike Philadelphia, the Lakers do have some pieces to continue developing around who have had serious playing time.
In terms of fit, putting high-potential young players like Simmons, D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson is usually a step in the right direction. There are concerns about how long it will take Simmons to develop a consistent jump shot and what his role in an NBA offense would be, but he would be able to step in and contribute rebounding, effort, and athleticism from day one and could be a good fit for the Lakers.
Fit: Solid. A young squad with an (essentially) blank slate now that the Mamba has slithered back into his nest could be a great situation.
Chances: Possible.
- Boston Celtics (From Brooklyn)
2015-16 Regular Season Record (48-34)
The Celtics are an intriguing top five lottery team (and the only one to have seen the postseason this last year). At their helm is Brad Stevens, a perennial NBA Coach of the Year contender recognized as a defensive genius and a coach who squeezes effort, defensive stops, (and even playoff appearances!) out of teams expected to have little success.
Simmons would come into a great situation in Boston and have the privilege of being around a winning team and upping his knowledge of defensive tactics and theory under Coach Stevens. Boston is seemingly an unlikely place for him to end up this Thursday, but would be a very exciting opportunity.
Fit: Great. Simmons would also be able to ease into a leadership role and receive mentoring from a hardworking squad and a great coach.
Chances: Very Unlikely
2015-16 Regular Season Record (29-53)
Though this scenario seems little more than a “hoop dream”, the idea of Simmons on the T-Wolves is a mouthwatering one—and not only to Minnesota fans. Pairing him up with the reigning Rookie of the Year and solid post player Karl Anthony-Towns as well as the indefatigable Kevin Garnett and a phenom in Andrew Wiggins could be the path to a title. Incoming coach Tom Thibodeau looks to institute his hard-nosed and tactical defense system in Minnesota and—along with some work on his jump shot, knowing how to play NBA defense may be the best thing for Simmons’ development.
Fit: Wow. A player as athletic and talented as Simmons could mean a title for the T-Wolves.
Chances: All but impossible, barring some last-minute “wheelin’ and dealin'”
Which NBA franchise would you like to draft Ben Simmons? Sixers, Lakers, Celtics or somewhere else? Let us in the comment section below!