The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: 5 Possibilities With the Top Overall Pick

By Josh Wilson

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Scenario 5: Take Ben Simmons

Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) controls the ball in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) controls the ball in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Ben Simmons is the general-consensus first overall pick in this year’s draft. Just the morning after the Sixers won the top overall pick, reports came out that the Sixers were already leaning towards Simmons.

Simmons is an Australian-born basketball player, who will get along with head coach Brett Brown — also an Aussie — right away.

His greatest strength is his ability to get to the hoop and produce points. He scored 19.2 points per game in his sole season with LSU, but his detractors biggest criticism is that he takes almost all of his shots at the hoop. Simmons has no jumper — or if he does, he’s kept it a secret — and really needs to work on that before he becomes a solid NBA player.

Having just one ability on the offensive side of the floor — scoring at the hoop — will be shut down quickly by NBA defenses. Simmons took just three 3-pointers in college (and made just one) and will need to work on his range before he’s able to greatly impact games.

Despite that, Simmons is noted as the top overall prospect in this year’s draft, and many believe that he has the highest ceiling. No doubt, he is a great rebounder (averaged nearly 12 per game in his freshman year) and will likely sort out all of his issues.

This likelihood of this scenario playing out is probably 70 to 80 percent.