Dec 2, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) reacts after dunking against the North Florida Ospreys during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Point Forward to the draft
Simmons is a point forward, who is listed at 6’10 and 225 pounds. He’s projected to play the three in the NBA, but he looks like a ridiculously tall point guard when he’s delivering beautiful no-look passes to cutting teammates or dribbling the ball coast-to-coast against multiple defenders. He’s a nightly triple-double threat and LSU puts the ball in his hands often since he thrives as a scorer and as a facilitator. Simmons is a very unique player, simply because 6’10 forwards typically don’t have his skill set and can’t move the way he does.
If he’s played as a wing within a two-post offense (say, next to the 76ers’ Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor), his lack of shooting range could be damning. But when used as a power forward alongside perimeter shooters, his singular talent bubbles to the surface. But his talents go beyond the conventional roles and sizes in the NBA. He COULD play in a conventional role, but even more intriguing is to capture his size, unique ball handing, and IQ into the point guard role.
Ben Simmons just makes the right play over & over & over. Unbelievable IQ and passing like a PG #NikeBasketballAcademy
— Aj Diggs (@Jigga2cal) June 30, 2015
The fact is, he does project at the point guard rather nicely. With point guard skills packed in a strong 6’10 frame, Simmons was probably the only player in the recruiting class of 2015 who could have played in the NBA out of high school. He came to the United States from Australia in 2013 and committed to LSU a year later, mainly because his godfather David Patrick is an assistant coach with the Tigers. There will be questions about his outside shooting and defensive ability, but his combination of size and feel for the game is unparalleled for a player his age.
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A 6’10” point guard? Perhaps not. But if you are going to go with Simmons, that is the natural position for him to play. Perhaps it’s time for the NBA to be shaken up once more. Oh.. by the way. Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson played point guard, and he was 6’9″. So yes, it can be done.
What can Simmons bring to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016? Solid point guard play. But before that happens, I will bring you more of the 2016 projected roster. The Philadelphia 76ers 2016 lineup is shaping up nicely. But it’s the bench story up next that will tell the tale.