The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot riding on Ben Simmons, their prize for winning the 2016 NBA draft lottery. Uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid's durability and Jahlil Okafor's defense makes Simmons' development that much more crucial.
Despite all of the hope, hype and unparalleled college production, questions about his superstar upside emerged during his one-and-done year at LSU.
With the Tigers having failed to reach the NCAA tournament, lack of competitiveness suddenly emerged as a talking point and a potentially concerning character flaw. The fact he made one three-pointer all year and consistently passed up open jumpers was also unsettling.
Apparently, none of this alarmed Sixers' management, which opted for yet another big man over Duke wing Brandon Ingram, the better on-paper fit based on Philadelphia's roster. Now the big question is how Simmons will fit in a lineup alongside the team's previous four lottery selections—Embiid, Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Dario Saric—who all stand at least 6'10".
Team Fit
One of the b ...
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Article written by Jonathan Wasserman
Realistic Expectations for Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Ben Simmons in 2016-17
July 19th, 2016 by Jonathan Wasserman Leave a reply »
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