With the regular season rapidly coming to a close, teams are preparing to welcome an addition to their roster by way of the 2016 NBA Draft, with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers all making a disheartening return to the lottery this year.
It’s always beneficial for a team to acquire a young player that can be developed into a substantial piece, however to constantly be victim to subpar seasons is a different situation.
Nonetheless, whichever organisation is fortunate enough to have their ping-pong ball selected for the No.1 pick will have several worthy options to choose from.
The Philadelphia 76ers will ultimately finish with the worst record in the league, only managing to muster up nine wins over the course of 77 games. As a result, general manager Sam Hinkie and the 76ers will have the highest probability of landing the No.1 pick. However, it’s not a guarantee.
Back in 2012, the Charlotte Bobcats concluded with a .106 winning percentage and seven total wins, yet were left with the No.2 pick in the draft, electing to take Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
But for the sake of predictions, Philadelphia will have possession of the first pick heading into the 2016 NBA Draft.
The 76ers haven’t gone anywhere near the postseason since the 2011-12 season, and they’ve elected to select centres for three straight years, all within the first ten picks. Nerlens Noel, drafted in 2013, is a defensive stud but has durability issues. Same with Kansas’ one-and-done big man Joel Embiid; he has yet to see the court since being drafted. Lastly, Jahlil Okafor is a major offensive weapon and has proven he can score in the post, but he has troublesome issues with maturity.
The 76ers can’t handle another incorrect draft decision. They’re approaching another season without making the playoffs, and their roster is not fit to compete in either conference on a consistent basis.
That said, there are two admirable candidates to be the No.1 overall pick in this draft: Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons.
Ingram is a 6’9″ forward with above-average ball handling, the ability to shoot spot-up or off the dribble, and length to bother shots. He’s been compared to Kevin Durant due to his slim frame and impressive scoring arsenal.
While he’s only 18 years of age and has time to bulk up, his slender build might be a red flag for the future. His weight is currently 195 pounds, so he’s guaranteed to have difficulties finishing among the trees in the NBA.
The other option is a jack of all trades, LSU forward Ben Simmons. The most complete player in this draft class, Simmons averaged 11.8 rebounds per game on the season, is a superb passer, averaged 4.8 dimes on the season, and averaged 19.3 points on 56 per cent shooting.
However, Simmons doesn’t seem to have that killer instinct in him. He was unable to guide his team to the NCAA tournament, which brings concern to his leadership and his ability to take over. Nevertheless, Simmons is intelligent and has a high basketball IQ. While a killer instinct is arguably unteachable, so is an innate knowledge of the game.
The question now is, which forward should Philly pick? This is their fourth consecutive selection in the lottery, they can’t afford yet another mistake.
The right move here would be to draft Ben Simmons with the No.1 pick, as every player will benefit from playing with him. Simmons is versatile and while his jump shot might not be super dependable, he is still an elite athlete with vision and playmaking skills.
The 76ers need a savior, and Simmons could be the player to finally guide them towards the light.
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