Does T.J. McConnell Give Sixers Confidence to Pick Simmons?

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Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (12) picks up a loose ball past Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake (22) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

As the Philadelphia 76ers seek to improve the point guard position, all eyes turn towards the NBA draft. Can the Sixers select Ben Simmons to upgrade the backcourt? With T.J. McConnell on the bench, they certainly can.

The Philadelphia 76ers have pretty much maxed out players with huge upsides in both their center and power forward positions for the 2016-2017 season. Beginning with Nerlens Noel, then adding Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, and finally pulling in Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes, the Sixers appear to have their work cut out for them in mentoring/mixing/matching/monitoring/moving their logjam of tall men for the 2016-2017 NBA season.

The team needs back-court help, and could stand to obtain a serious perimeter defender at a wing position. But defense seldom runs hot in NCAA prospects, as they focus on scoring as the main highway into their NBA dream career. The Sixers may not find exactly everything they are seeking in the 2016 NBA draft, and so they need to prepare other options as well in what appears to be a down draft year. But If the draft class is not as strong overall as recent years, it does have a skew towards smaller players. Smaller players fill backcourt positions. That is right into the Sixers wheelhouse.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the potential first round draft pick in the NBA draft, with an almost a 30% chance of selecting there. As the Sixers have dire needs in several positions, the team will have a very important decision to make if they land the top overall pick. One such choice who has been the talk of the 2016 NBA draft has been Louisiana State University point forward Ben Simmons.

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Ben Simmons is a rare type of basketball player who has no one true position. “Jack of all trades, master of none.” If selected by the Sixers, he would likely be slotted into the point guard role. That’s where his most valuable skill sets dictate he plays, that is where he wants to play, that is where the Philadelphia 76ers biggest need lies. A perfect set up? Well in some regards. You see, his bread and butter is passing the ball, and using his huge size in a way that few can – defending point guards. He has not yet mastered the jumper, nor is his long range shot going to place on any highlight reels, but given time, he will grow into those shots.

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