The Sixer Sense
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2016 NBA Draft: Philadelphia 76ers Staff Predictions

By Josh Wilson

Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; LSU freshman Ben Simmons (center) sits in the front row during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; LSU freshman Ben Simmons (center) sits in the front row during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Over the past NBA season, I was in favor of the Philadelphia 76ers drafting Brandon Ingram if they received the first pick. Then, as soon as the Sixers won the lottery, I instantaneously flip-flopped over to Ben Simmons.

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My rationale for originally thinking Ingram was the correct pick was based solely on the fact that I felt he was the better “fit” for the current Sixers roster. But then it got me thinking – fit with what?

There’s a very small chance that the Sixers will enter next season with Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor all on the roster. Philly also has the second most cap-space in the NBA heading into free agency and will almost certainly spend a couple bucks to bring a few free agents to the City of Brotherly Love.

Overall, it’d be much more beneficial for the Sixers to take Simmons: he’s just the better player. He’s 6-10 and can handle like a point guard, has unbelievable athleticism and can deliver better passes than most of the players that are already in the NBA.

The main knock on him is that he still hasn’t fully developed a consistent outside shot. This was also true with LeBron James when he entered the league back in 2004 – Anyone remember how he turned out?

The Sixers don’t need to get cute and they don’t need to overthink this. Simmons has been the top prospect in this draft class all year for so many different reasons.

And he’s the no-brainer selection at No. 1 overall.

— Kevin Kolodziej

Next: Bret Stuter