Height: 6-10
Weight: 240 pounds
Wingspan: 7-0.25
DOB: 7/20/96
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft (and this NBA mock draft), the Philadelphia 76ers face a bit of a conundrum. Not only do they have to consider the fact that Brandon Ingram has caught up to Ben Simmons and dethroned him from being the consensus No. 1 pick in this draft, but most of their recent lottery picks are also in the frontcourt, a space Simmons occupies. Even still, they still have to take the LSU Tigers freshman in my book.
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For however talented Ingram is, Simmons is still ahead of him in terms of talent, upside, and value to an organization that’s in the position that the Sixers are. In his lone season and while playing for a team that was lackluster (not entirely to the fault of Simmons, either), the Australian product put up 19.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, two steals, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor. 6-10 players with his length and athleticism that can produce in so many facets of the game aren’t common—in fact they’re exceptionally rare.
Despite how talented I think Ingram is, the Sixers are foolish if they keep the No. 1 pick and don’t take Simmons. He’s far and away the best prospect in this draft and is going to be a star in the NBA. As Philly tries to climb out of the quagmire at the bottom of the standings, Simmons is the first true step in doing so.
Next: No. 2 Lakers