Ben Simmons could be the reward for the Lakers’ struggles this season
There’s a question that many Los Angeles Lakers and basketball fans contemplate nowadays: is LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons the next LeBron James? The next Kevin Durant? On Wednesday, Simmons unleashed a 43-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist performance, the most a Tigers player has scored since Shaquille O’Neal played for the team.
When Durant played his one season for the Texas Longhorns almost 10 years ago, he too dominated the college game. He grabbed 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per over the 35-game season. Needless to say, he deserved to be a top-three draft pick. Whichever franchise selected him, he was immediately going to make a difference.
Durant has revolutionized the Oklahoma City Thunder, transforming them into a title contender every season since he came into the NBA (at least when he’s been healthy). The Lakers need such a player. The Lakers need Ben Simmons.
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Simmons is averaging almost 20 points and 15 rebounds per game so far. He’s in the top-five in the SEC in points, rebounds and assists. He also leads the conference in steals per game and ranks in second in total field goals made.
For most of their existence, the Lakers have competed for a title each season. For most of the last decade, with the exception of the entertaining Kobe and Smush Parker years, the Lakers expected to win a championship. Now comes another rebuilding year for the Lakers. Kobe is retiring and the Lakers must find another once-in-a-generation player to lead Los Angeles. With Julius Randle playing the four, young Jordan Clarkson beginning to hold his own at the two-guard and D’Angelo Russell developing as the starting point guard, the Lakers are really only missing one other young player to form a nice youthful core. Enter Simmons.
Simmons is a gift sent from the heavens. Yet, to acquire Simmons the Lakers must endure another year of losing. Unfortunately for Laker fans, it will be another year of watching Nick Young hoist up crazy shots, another year of seemingly no defensive pressure or aggressiveness.
It is imperative that the Lakers tank this year. Byron Scott and his staff must use the rest of this season to develop his players. Give Larry Nance Jr. more opportunities to mesh with his teammates. In the coming years, he could be a solid sixth man. Give some playing time to Anthony Brown and maybe he will eventually develop into a consistent outside shooter like he was in college.
The tanking connects perfectly with Kobe Bryant’s retirement. Make this season about remembering Kobe and the end of an era of the Lakers. Then, next year will be about beginning an era of renewed hope in Los Angeles.
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And hope wears No. 25 for the LSU Tigers. If the Lakers are lucky enough to secure the No. 1 pick in 2016, drafting Ben Simmons would transition the Lakers to a new period of success.