Ben Simmons for No. 1 Pick

[Djh7475]

I would do it in a heartbeat. Look at the top teams in the NBA: Golden State, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Boston, Washington, and the Clippers. Of those 7 teams, 5 of them make up the top 5 in 3 point %. The other 2 are Boston and Houston, both of which are above average and within 1% of of being #6 and #7. Both also have 2 guys that are putting up historically significant individual offensive seasons. I get that his playmaking and ball handling for his size are exceptional, but so are Draymond Green's.

Unfortunately, Green is a FAR superior defender and shooter (even if his shooting numbers are down this year), and Green has the absurd motor and intangibles that have always made his teams win with him on the floor (whereas Simmons' effort, mentality, and leadership are all extremely questionable). As a subpar defender with a broken shot who wasn't a great leader nor one to exert any extra effort at LSU, I don't see how he excels in the modern NBA relative to expectations. Teams don't want PGs that can't shoot, and they don't want guys that can't shoot doing almost all of their ball handling.

Considering Fultz projects to be just as good of a playmaker while be a far better shooter and possessing elite positional size/length, he just checks a lot more boxes than Simmons. He's more effective everywhere on the floor other than within the paint, and in a league that hates guys who need the ball to be effective and even moreso guys that clog the paint, I don't think it would be that close even if they were both coming out this year at the same age fully healthy.

Considering Simmons is 2 years older with 3 years left on his contract (1 of which he will be coming back from a significant injury) along with the fact that Fultz has developed incredibly over the last few years while Simmons has remained stagnant (or taken a step back depending on how his injury affects him), and it is a no brainer. Hell, Saric could end up being the better PF in the modern NBA of the 2 (and they could add Jackson, Tatum, or Isaac as well), so unless Philly gets #2, I don't think it'd be too hard for them to give in.

[GutUNC]

Or, stay the course and implement Simmons as PG a la Giannis and let Saric continue to play the point forward 4.

Simmons
Monk
Covington
Saric
Embiid

That lineup would have some trouble on the defensive end.

Covington and Embiid are both elite defenders. Time will tell on the rest.


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[Swoosh_Stripes]

Or, stay the course and implement Simmons as PG a la Giannis and let Saric continue to play the point forward 4.

Simmons
Monk
Covington
Saric
Embiid

That lineup would have some trouble on the defensive end.

Covington and Embiid are both elite defenders. Time will tell on the rest.


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Covington or Monk would have to guard the other team's PG and best wing, that leaves either Saric or Simmons guarding the other wing, are either of those guys capable of defending a wing player out on the perimeter? The reason why Giannis at PG works so well for Milwaukee is because of their versatility on the defensive end, but time will tell.

[eitanr]

What if it were the 2 pick vs. 1 pick. So essentially Lorenzo Ball for Ben Simmons?

[GutUNC]

That lineup would have some trouble on the defensive end.

Covington and Embiid are both elite defenders. Time will tell on the rest.


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Covington or Monk would have to guard the other team's PG and best wing, that leaves either Saric or Simmons guarding the other wing, are either of those guys capable of defending a wing player out on the perimeter? The reason why Giannis at PG works so well for Milwaukee is because of their versatility on the defensive end, but time will tell.

Wasn't suggesting they'd lead the league in defense. Just that I'll take my chances with two elite defenders and 3 guys who have combined for 1 NBA season this far before I declare them a bad defensive team. Plus I would expect that Monk would be coming off the bench to start with a better win defender in the lineup anyway.


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[Kings2013]

Question should be asked Fultz vrs Simmons as prospects, because sitting all year injured greatly diminishes value more than many realize

[sixerswillrule]

Why take a guy who is suppose to be a dream 4 in today's NBA and force him to play the 1.

We will acquire a combo guard to share ball-handling duties with Simmons.

[shawn_hemp]

Can't see this happening. And I wouldn't want it to happen.

This reminds me of people questioning Embiid's game while he was sidelined

I know what I saw at LSU. I know what I saw in Summer League.

You don't trade that for Markelle Fultz

[sixerswillrule]

Or, stay the course and implement Simmons as PG a la Giannis and let Saric continue to play the point forward 4.

Simmons
Monk
Covington
Saric
Embiid

Giannis defends PFs.

[username_taken]

I wouldn't do it for the #1 pick for Fultz, but for Ball/Jackson/Monk types I'd absolutely do it. Doubt the Sixers would bite though.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Can't see this happening. And I wouldn't want it to happen.

This reminds me of people questioning Embiid's game while he was sidelined

I know what I saw at LSU. I know what I saw in Summer League.

You don't trade that for Markelle Fultz

I know what you didn't see--him hitting shots that weren't at the rim. He's not a discernibly different level of a prospect than Fultz or Ball.

[Diamondman07]

Can't see this happening. And I wouldn't want it to happen.

This reminds me of people questioning Embiid's game while he was sidelined

I know what I saw at LSU. I know what I saw in Summer League.

You don't trade that for Markelle Fultz

You saw teams leave him wide open and dared him to shoot..

Simmons is very quick and athletic, no question. Simmons shoots worse than Rondo, no question.

In college he was quicker and more agile than 95% of all college players, but when he ever suits up on the NBA, that number drops, significantly. Long term talent in the 2016 draft, he was 3rd best prospect, short term he was the top talent just due to size and speed.

If he were in this draft, I've got him as 4th best long term. If Philly can get a top 3 pick for him they should take it but, if I have a top 2 pick Philly would need to add something with Simmons.

[antonac]

I actually already suggested this in another thread with regards to Boston.

imo it makes perfect sense for both teams involved.

Boston
Simmons projects as a generational talent, but has questionable intangibles and now has injury concerns. Boston with their assets can afford to take a gamble on him. Stevens is a better coach for him knowing his attitude problems.
They can ease him in slower.
Their front court is thinner than their backcourt and he can find minutes in rotation easier.
He gives them rebounding and a secondary playmaker that can potentially take over from Thomas.

Philly
They have logjam in the front court, though I initially suggested this prior to Nerlens' trade.
They can't afford to have their two best players with injury problems. Boston can easily cope with missing 20 games a season from simmons, if philly end up losing Embiid and Simmons for a combined 40, and that's being kind then they're back to sitting in lottery.
Fultz gives them outside shooting
He's not got the ceiling Simmons has (imo) but as a large PG with a good work ethic he's less likely to be a bust.

should say I'm not as high on Fultz as a lot of people are, I don't see him being a top 5 point guard in the league ever, I think he's going to have difficult scoring and his playmaking is over-rated. Simmons I see shredding defenses from day 1, but he has a lot of work to do to make the superstar level, if he does it he will surpass Fultz easily.

but I still do the trade from either teams perspective thinking this.

as an added thought, I think Fultz is such a bad fit for the celtics I take Ball if I get the number 1 pick. (plus is would piss his dad off seeing his son suit up for the celts, might shut him up.)

[Kings2013]

Can't see this happening. And I wouldn't want it to happen.

This reminds me of people questioning Embiid's game while he was sidelined

I know what I saw at LSU. I know what I saw in Summer League.

You don't trade that for Markelle Fultz

You saw teams leave him wide open and dared him to shoot..

Simmons is very quick and athletic, no question. Simmons shoots worse than Rondo, no question.

In college he was quicker and more agile than 95% of all college players, but when he ever suits up on the NBA, that number drops, significantly. Long term talent in the 2016 draft, he was 3rd best prospect, short term he was the top talent just due to size and speed.

If he were in this draft, I've got him as 4th best long term. If Philly can get a top 3 pick for him they should take it but, if I have a top 2 pick Philly would need to add something with Simmons.

He also doesn't project well defensively as a PF

[basketballwacko2]

It seems crazy. Why would Philly deal Simmons, who has yet to play, for the number one pick? Why would a team that has that slot not take Fultz?

Pretty simple answer. Most teams in position for the number 1 pick: Boston, Lakers, Suns, Orlando, Sacramento need a more ball dominant do-it-all forward than the in-coming PG. The one exception to that, the Philadelphia 76ers.

By making such a move, the Sixers can further simplify their young core and make sense of a future with Fultz running the show and Saric and Embid at the front court with Okafor as 6th man. That unit makes far more sense than trying to force fit Simmons into a position he is not, PG.

Meanwhile a team like Boston, LA, PHX, Orlando and Sacramento gets that needed go to wing/small big who can propel their teams to the next level.

How many #1 picks does one team need?

[Foshan]

Or, stay the course and implement Simmons as PG a la Giannis and let Saric continue to play the point forward 4.

Simmons
Monk
Covington
Saric
Embiid

That lineup would have some trouble on the defensive end.

If Embiid is healthy & RoCo is on the floor, i'm really not all that concerned about the defense.

Monk may or may not be a turnstile. but RoCo should be able to guard the best wing, leaving Simmons to sag off the other. Embiid is such a difference maker, I think our defense would still be pretty solid with this group.

[CptCrunch]

I would do it in a heartbeat. Look at the top teams in the NBA: Golden State, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Boston, Washington, and the Clippers. Of those 7 teams, 5 of them make up the top 5 in 3 point %. The other 2 are Boston and Houston, both of which are above average and within 1% of of being #6 and #7. Both also have 2 guys that are putting up historically significant individual offensive seasons. I get that his playmaking and ball handling for his size are exceptional, but so are Draymond Green's.

Unfortunately, Green is a FAR superior defender and shooter (even if his shooting numbers are down this year), and Green has the absurd motor and intangibles that have always made his teams win with him on the floor (whereas Simmons' effort, mentality, and leadership are all extremely questionable). As a subpar defender with a broken shot who wasn't a great leader nor one to exert any extra effort at LSU, I don't see how he excels in the modern NBA relative to expectations. Teams don't want PGs that can't shoot, and they don't want guys that can't shoot doing almost all of their ball handling.

Considering Fultz projects to be just as good of a playmaker while be a far better shooter and possessing elite positional size/length, he just checks a lot more boxes than Simmons. He's more effective everywhere on the floor other than within the paint, and in a league that hates guys who need the ball to be effective and even moreso guys that clog the paint, I don't think it would be that close even if they were both coming out this year at the same age fully healthy.

Considering Simmons is 2 years older with 3 years left on his contract (1 of which he will be coming back from a significant injury) along with the fact that Fultz has developed incredibly over the last few years while Simmons has remained stagnant (or taken a step back depending on how his injury affects him), and it is a no brainer. Hell, Saric could end up being the better PF in the modern NBA of the 2 (and they could add Jackson, Tatum, or Isaac as well), so unless Philly gets #2, I don't think it'd be too hard for them to give in.

Rockets 3pt % is 'low' because all their players take all kinds of 'garbage' shots. If their 3pt shot selection was better, they would be near the top of the league.

[jbent87]

Or, stay the course and implement Simmons as PG a la Giannis and let Saric continue to play the point forward 4.

Simmons
Monk
Covington
Saric
Embiid

Giannis defends PFs.

So in this hypoethical scenario

"Monk" defends the 1
Cov 2
Saric 3 (has been doing it while switching off with Covington this season)
Simmons 4
Embiid 5

[jbent87]

Also, it's amazing how quickly people write off someone because of missing a season. Just forgetting that this guy was compared to Magic freaking Johnson. Potential reazlied, are you taking Magic Johnson or James Harden? You're taking the 6"10 HOF PG.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Also, it's amazing how quickly people write off someone because of missing a season. Just forgetting that this guy was compared to Magic freaking Johnson. Potential reazlied, are you taking Magic Johnson or James Harden? You're taking the 6"10 HOF PG.

Who's writing him off? I don't see one poster doing so. Most are just saying he's not a higher level prospect than Fultz.

That's not knocking Simmons-- that's just praising a guy who also projects very well. It's not a zero-sum game, Fultz being anazing doesn't mean Simmons has decreased as a prospect.

Also, the most common comparison for Simmons was a 6'10 Rondo, not a top 5 player of all time. If you're expecting him to be Magic, you're going to be disappointed.