Philadelphia 76ers Post 2016 NBA Draft Reexam
By Bret Stuter
2016 NBA Draft Pick 1
Who Picked: Point Forward Ben Simmons
Who Was There: Shooting Guard Brandon Ingram, Point Guard Kris Dunn
Analysis: The debate waged between selecting either Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons until draft night. Ben Simmons won out, and that was the right move for the team.
Don’t get me wrong, Brandon Ingram is a gifted young man and will not surprise me to hear his name in rookie of the year discussions. Ingram is a shooter, and he will score in the NBA, sometimes at a pace that will cause pause. But Ingram is a scorer, who can add defense at a position.
In Simmons, it feels as though we just “get more”. In summer league, Simmons presented a young man in control, with a high intensity, and with solid basketball logic. He placed his passes where they needed to be to give his teammates excellent looks. He demonstrated the ability to score, and to rebound. Simmons will threaten to deliver a triple double on any given night.
Ingram helps a team by scoring. Simmons helps a team by elevating everyone’s game.
Score: A
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