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NBA Draft: Too-Early NBA Rookie of the Year Power Rankings

By Cody Williams

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brandon Ingram (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brandon Ingram (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Ben Simmons, PF — No. 1 Pick, Philadelphia 76ers

Even more so than Ingram being at No. 4 in these initial NBA Rookie of the Year Power Rankings, seeing the No. 1 overall pick in Ben Simmons at just third in the rankings has to be a bit of a shock. One of the great things about Simmons as a prospect is the fact that he looks to be an unreal combination of NBA ready while also having tremendous upside. And in terms of skills and his physical tools, I 100 percent believe that to be the case.

Related Story: Lakers: 5 Undrafted Free Agents to Target

However, this has a lot to do with the situation with the Philadelphia 76ers. Things are definitely improving for the organization now that Sam Hinkie is out of power and the Colangelo family is at the helm, but now there is an odd, odd mix of players in Philly that seemingly can’t all play together. When you think about Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, a finally-debuitn Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and now Simmons, they all occupy the same spaces on the floor for the most part. That’s problematic.

Obviously this could all change with one blockbuster trade that sends out Okafor, Noel, or both and creates a multitude of room in the frontcourt. However, there are just too many bodies vying for substantial minutes in the Philadelphia frontcourt right now for me to put all of my faith in Simmons winning NBA Rookie of the Year, regardless of if he’s the most talented prospect in his class or not.

Next: No. 2 Wade Baldwin

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