Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram – 2016 NBA Draft

Why the 76ers should pass on Ben Simmons and draft Brandon Ingram No. 1

The Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers will be picking the first two draft picks in the 2016 NBA Draft barring a trade, with two prospects clearly being at the top of their lists. After years of tanking under recently fired GM Sam Hinkie, the young 76ers are finally in position to land a young superstar who can change the fortunes of this struggling franchise. On the other side of the country, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to finally turn the page on the Kobe era once and for all.

Ben Simmons

Two franchises in the cellar. Two potential saviors at the top of the draft. With everything that is at stake, it is crucial that each team get the player who best fits their culture and organization. Word around the league is that Ben Simmons, a freshman sensation out of LSU is the current favorite to be chosen No. 1 overall by the 76ers.

At his best, Simmons is LeBron-like in the open court. He has excellent size and can run the floor effortlessly. He rebounds at a very impressive clip, but his elite NBA skill will be his passing ability and court vision, a trait he shares with his favorite player, the aforementioned James. Simmons has an innate feel for the game that is beyond his years, and will likely excel at multiple positions in the NBA.

From a fantasy perspective, Simmons will give you points, rebounds and assists on a nightly basis. I project that Simmons will average 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists over the course of his rookie season. This type of stat-box filling production is what many fantasy owners look for.

However, with the good comes the bad. Simmons is currently non-existent as an outside shooting threat and his free throw shooting (67%) is decent for a forward but has room for improvement. He can improve on his outside shooting like most rookies do over time, but he naturally does not look for his jump shot and instead focuses on attacking the rim and creating plays for others.

Brandon Ingram

To keep with the NBA-superstar comparisons, Brandon Ingram at his best is Durant-like. Armed with a ridiculous 7’3″ wingspan, Ingram has the potential to be a lights out 3-point shooter and a swiss-army knife defender. He is also a full year younger than Simmons, and is still growing into his spindly frame. Once he is able to put on more weight and add muscle, Ingram could easily be a 20+ ppg scorer in the league for the next 10 years, much like Durant has turned out to be.

As the NBA has evolved into a game where the 3-point shot is being used more and more by teams, Ingram has all the tools to fit in today’s modern landscape. He can take bigs out to the perimeter, and also has the ability to play as the center in small ball lineups a’ la Draymond Green for the Golden State Warriors. He is also a very productive shot blocker, averaging 1.4 blocks in 36 minutes at Duke. From a fantasy perspective, Ingram will give you points, rebounds and block shots. I project that Ingram will average 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block over the course of his rookie season.

Now here’s where things get interesting. Most draft experts and people close to the 76ers believe that they will choose Ben Simmons with the top pick. For one thing, the 76ers already have a connection with Simmons and his family. New Sixers head coach, Brett Brown, coached Simmons’ father, David, as an assistant for the Melbourne Tigers, a pro basketball team in Australia. This connection could prove to be enough to get Simmons to go along with playing for Philadelphia, but many people who have been around Simmons say that he would much rather play in Los Angeles for the Lakers.

In L.A., Simmons could be the second coming of Magic Johnson. A potential marketing superstar who is already close friends with several celebs and music entertainers; Simmons oozes that Hollywood swag and flashy game that will only flourish in the bright lights of Hollywood. Ingram on the other hand is very introverted and shy, but is an extremely hard worker who is not concerned with endorsements or distractions outside of basketball. In Philly, Ingram would provide the outside shooting and scoring prowess that the 76ers currently lack.

With 2014 first round pick (3rd overall) Joel Embiid scheduled to play for the first time after sitting out the past two seasons with various injuries, the 76ers would be best suited playing from the inside out, getting the ball to Embiid and Jahlil Okafor in the post while having Ingram as an outside threat to keep defenses honest.

With the NBA Draft less than a month away, both teams will have ample time to workout both players to make sure they are making the right decision. If the 76ers want to stay out of the lottery for the next 10 years, they should go all-in on the unassuming Ingram and let Simmons shine in Hollywood. This scenario would be better for the Sixers, Lakers and for fantasy owners who draft either one of these talented rookies.

I will be coming out with my 2016 NBA Mock Draft real soon so be on the lookout!