Why Ben Simmons dictates pick 3
Come June, Ben Simmons‘ presence will dictate the Philadelphia 76ers’ decision making.
Do you draft the ‘best available talent’, or on a needs basis? The Philadelphia 76ers have generally gone for best available talent in recent drafts but this year might just be the time to buck that trend. There were few complaints when Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor were drafted but one is now gone and the other appears destined to follow him out of town. And for minimal return. Picking players at the same position can not only stunt their development — it also kills their trade value.
Live Feed
Sir Charles In Charge
Which is why Ben Simmons is so crucial to Philadelphia’s attitude to the 2017 NBA draft. Coach Brett Brown has frequently talked about playing him at point guard, yet the Sixers continue to be linked with free agent Kyle Lowry, as well as De’Aron Fox at pick three or even a trade up to pick one in order to nab Markelle Fultz.
While many people can envision Simmons running fast breaks and playing as a pseudo-point forward a la LeBron James, few actually see him as a true starting point guard. Standing 6-10 and weighing a reported 240 pounds, it’s not hard to understand why. People rave about Lonzo Ball’s size at 6-6.
Is his ball handling good enough to run the point? Will his three point shooting be respectable enough to ensure opposing defences don’t sag off him? Can he guard speedy point guards and if not, will the cross matches hurt the defense? These are questions Brown and GM Bryan Colangelo will have discussed at length. If they believe that Simmons can play the one, then pick three in the draft seemingly becomes a choice between Malik Monk, Jayson Tatum and Josh Jackson.
Imagine a starting lineup of Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, Josh Jackson/Jayson Tatum, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid. Scary long. Plenty of shooting. Terrific one through four switching potential. (This is also why I like Monk – he’s a little undersized to guard twos, but at 6-3, he’s a great size to take the opposition’s point guard, allowing Simmons to guard wing’s or stretch 4’s, whilst also adding crucial floor spacing)
Look at the glass the other way and maybe you see Simmons playing as a 3. If so, the Sixers would likely pick whoever the Lakers don’t out of Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox. But that’s only if they’re not chasing a free agent point guard like Jrue Holiday or the aforementioned Lowry with their ample cap space.
Next: Should the Sixers Trade Up for Markelle Fultz?
Throw in 2 first round picks in both 2018 and 2019 and the sixers literally have endless options for building this roster.
Ben Simmons is yet to play an NBA game but incredibly enough what the 76ers do this draft and off season should be geared around where they see him playing.