The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Draft

By Christopher Kline

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) reacts as he walks off stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Ben Simmons

Now, I’ve been steadfast in my opinion that Simmons wasn’t the best basketball fit for the Sixers since day one, with Brandon Ingram and Jamal Murray providing almost idealistic on-court accompaniments to their post-heavy rotation. However, to say Simmons was a poor pick or to call the decision ill advised would be foolish. Out of everybody in this year’s draft, there’s no doubting the fact that Simmons has the highest upside of any player available and gives Philly a sense of superstar potential and team identity that they have severely lacked over the course of past seasons.

Standing at 6’10’’, Simmons is the best play-maker in this year’s draft. He can handle on the perimeter, operate off of screens, and see the floor brilliantly from the post, all while towering over his assigned defender at times and possessing an athletic package that’s hard to keep in front of when he gets moving towards the basket. Simmons can also attack the lane or facilitate from the post like few, if any, players his size can. He gives the Sixers the playmaking they have been looking for in recent years, and although he doesn’t solve their obvious floor spacing issues, his exceptional versatility alone is a massive bonus.

In today’s NBA, being able to switch between positions to the extent that Simmons can is a major rotational boost. His quickness allows him to man either forward spot from an athletic standpoint alone, while his shot blocking and rebounding has the inevitable potential to come at a rate that we see out of some centers. He’s a viable small ball five who can legitimately run an offense, a rare piece of basketball clay that can be molded to fit almost any situation Brett Brown comes across. That, along with the fact that Brett Brown has coached his father, David Simmons, with the Australian national team, makes this a highly valuable selection.

Next: Luwawu