If the Lakers end up keeping their pick, they may find themselves in a similar position as the year prior
For months now, LSU freshman, Ben Simmons, has been the consensus number one pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but similar to Jahlil Okafor last year, he’s been surpassed by another player, Duke’s Brandon Ingram.
Simmons’ athleticism, passing ability and impressive stats made him the overwhelming favorite but whether it be his recent academic struggles or his prolonged nonchalant demeanor, there has been a shift in attitude towards the 19 year old point forward.
If you follow NBA basketball closely, you should be relatively familiar with DraftExpress.com, one of the most frequented sources for NBA mock drafts. That said, as of March 14, Ingram had surpassed Simmons as the number one pick in their latest mock draft.
— Mutiple Sources (@ericdyee) March 15, 2016
Monday, Jonathan Givony of The Vertical and DraftExpress, released an article addressing “Why Ben Simmons isn’t the top draft prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft” stating that Simmons’ reign at the top is over for relatively simple reasons.
First,
"Simmons’ lack of competitiveness in some crucial games has raised questions about his character as a basketball player. . .Simmons has displayed an apathy for defense, contact and delivering winning plays in crucial moments. Those troubling revelations in Simmons’€™ game are cause for concern among decision-makers on lottery teams with whom we’ve had contact."
Second,
"Simmons’€™ box scores have grown increasingly hollow. . .At times, it appears he only passes when guaranteed an assist and chases home-run plays at inopportune times in search of a highlight. Simmons seems to value those things over winning."
Lastly,
"The report on defending Simmons in the half-court is well known and has been utilized effectively in recent weeks. Teams are putting smaller players on Simmons, backing off him and daring him to shoot. Simmons seems to have zero confidence in his outside shot and becomes passive when guarded this way."
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Personally, Ben Simmons hasn’t lived up to the hype that he’s received and I’d prefer Ingram not only for his fit but for the mere gut feeling that he’ll pan out more so than Simmons down the line.
In regards to his fit, Ingram would be able to slide into this young Lakers lineup seamlessly. A starting unit of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and a free agent center, could be a playoff contender in years to come.
Further, a pairing of Ben Simmons and Julius Randle, two bigs who struggle with their outside shot and don’t excel defensively, would be a nightmare for the Lakers on both ends of the floor.
Next: Russell Looks to 'Separate' Himself From Other Rookies
Regardless, the Purple and Gold will have to keep their fingers crossed and pray that the ping pong balls fall their way come May, but considering Byron Scott‘s average draft position over his last five years, the Lakers are sitting pretty.