Ben Simmons, or Brandon Ingram? Draft for Fit, or BPA?

By Dalton Lanoza | Jan 28, 2016

Jan 16, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Arkansas 76-74. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

If the Sixers manage to land the the #1 overall pick this summer, would you rather them take LSU’s Ben Simmons, or Duke’s Brandon Ingram? Should Hinkie pursue best fit, or best player available?

Ben Simmons has been seen as the #1 prospect for quite some time now. This goes back to well before the NBA and college basketball seasons started. Since then the Australian phenom has continued to impress in his freshman year at LSU. Simmons has complied quite a stat line about half way through this year highlighted by 20 PPG, 12.9 REB, 5.1 ASt, and at least 1 steal and block per contest.

Simmons is clearly a jack-of-all-trades out there on the court, and has dominated less than impressive competition so far. The win against Kentucky back in early January was only 1 of 2 games LSU has had against a ranked opponent thus far. That will surely change as LSU takes on #1 ranked Oklahoma this Saturday in Baton Rouge.

The competition level will continue improve as the year goes on as Simmons faces the stronger teams in the conference and NCAA tournaments. While I expect him to succeed just fine, I do think his lack of consistent jump shot could be exposed against teams that lock down the paint against LSU.

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The Sixers number one need right now is a consistent wing player that can shoot the three, and Ben Simmons doesn’t exactly fit that mold. He projects more as an athletic power forward that can control the offense with his handles.

The one knock on Simmons is his lack of a developed jump shot, and on a team with a loaded front court that doesn’t feature any shooters, Simmons does not project as a perfect fit next to guys like Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor. If the Sixers were to take Simmons, they would almost have to move one of their recent top picks in hopes to balance the roster.

So do the Sixers take Simmons knowing they will further crowd their front court? OR Should they go away from their best available player strategy they’ve used recently, and draft more for need?

Que the Brandon Ingram suggestions…

Duke Brandon Ingram is exactly what Philadelphia yearns for right now, and he’s having an impressive season of his own in Durham. Despite Duke basketball suffering three straight losses since god knows when, it has not been because of Brandon Ingram. He has put up a stat line of 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.7 APG in 19 games thus far, and is honestly the reason Duke hasn’t lost more games this year.

Without help from an injured front court, Ingram alongside the likes of Grayson Allen, and Luke Kennard have carried much of the scoring load. On top of that, Ingram is most often guarding the opposing team’s best player.

His defensive game needs some work, but his incredible length at 6’10”, with a 7’3″ wingspan has allowed him to at least get a hand in people’s face. His lanky frame limits his defensive strength on the block, and those toothpick legs of his don’t produce the best footwork, but all of that will come hard work over time. NBA strength & conditioning programs will have him bulked up a bit in no time.

The offensive side of the ball is Ingram’s bread and butter. He has a picture perfect jump shot straight out of a shot doctor seminar that expands well past the college three point range. Ingram is currently shooting just under 42% from behind the arc.

Fluidity is a word you’ll often hear in scouting reports on Ingram as he has proved to be a smooth operator on offense. His length is gazelle-esque, and on the fast break he looks similar to guys like Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetekounmpo in relation to their ability to cover the whole court in just a few steps.

Length, deep-range, defensive potential…

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Those are the three main holes at the wing positions on this Sixers roster, and Brandon Ingram could fill them all.

So once again…Do you take the player that is being called the best prospect since Lebron despite a lack of fit, or do you take the guy that fits perfectly with what the roster has compiled so far.

VOTE NOW!

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