Bryan Colangelo recap from 97.5 interview

[eagereyez]

Well, you're debating the wrong guy, because I loathe the Hawks and everything about them. Their ceiling is maxed out, because they have no one who can take over a game. Passing doesn't win you title, players who take over games do. The Spurs won most of their titles when Duncan was still the best PF in the game, and then you had a young Parker and Ginobili. They won in 2013 against Miami because they wee deep, well coached, but most importantly had an up and coming star in Leonard. They are the exception, not the rule. Teams generally don't win titles that way. The Hawks won't win one, most certainly.

The Warriors definitely pass well, but their great shooting(the best shooter in NBA history, and another in Klay who is probably top 10 ever) makes it so much easier to space and create passing lanes. Everyone of their players can shoot on their entire roster except Bogut and Ezeli. Their roster dictates that, but they win games because they have two players who can take over games offensively first and foremost. It makes them so hard to guard.

You can find good passers, good facilitators, but taking a guy #1 because of those talents is a mistake IMO. If Simmons can develop a jumper, then he will be worth it. If not, he won't IMO. He will be a nice solid NBA player, but you want more than that from #1 overall. Especially when you tank 3 freaking years to get #1.

Simmons scored more pts on a better percentage than Ingram. He also scored more pts on a better percentage than both Wiggins and Parker. He's also a better rebounder, defender and passer than all three of those guys. He has the ball handling and the driving ability to take over late in the game. The only thing he can't do right now is shoot 3s.

[NJ SixerFan]

I've been on the Ingram side of the Simmons vs Ingram argument for a while now although I am also completely ok now with Simmons being the guy picked at 1. With that said I do not believe a embiid jah Simmons lineup works. Add onto that part of BC pitch for saric having a golden opportunity at the pf spot with grant being his only real competition right now leads me to believe BC doesn't believe jah can be a PF and will be the player he moves. Whether he'll make the right trade is for another thread. But I think we will honestly see a lineup next season consisting of:
Noel/embiid clearly embiid if healthy
Saric
Simmons
?
?

[the_process]

Ingram is the pick and it's not close. Those who want Simmons are over projecting and/or bought into the BSPN hype.

[Unbreakable99]

Ingram is the pick and it's not close. Those who want Simmons are over projecting and/or bought into the BSPN hype.

Keep dreaming. I think you know we will be drafting Simmons. You might as well just embrace it now. You are right about one hing. The two aren't close. Simmons all the way.

[the_process]

Ingram is the pick and it's not close. Those who want Simmons are over projecting and/or bought into the BSPN hype.

Keep dreaming. I think you know we will be drafting Simmons. You might as well just embrace it now. You are right about one hing. The two aren't close. Simmons all the way.

Completely disagree. Simmons is a whiny, entitled, petulant child who will require the team to be demolished to make it work optimally around him. Bryan will be in charge of that. And then we'll see if it was all worth it.

HINT: It won't be.

[Unbreakable99]

Ingram is the pick and it's not close. Those who want Simmons are over projecting and/or bought into the BSPN hype.

Keep dreaming. I think you know we will be drafting Simmons. You might as well just embrace it now. You are right about one hing. The two aren't close. Simmons all the way.

Completely disagree. IF they take Simmons, then we'll see the team demolition Bryan has to do to make him work optimally, and then we'll see if it was all worth it.

HINT: It won't be.

Demolition? Overreact much? Okafor would be traded. That would help us not hurt us. Just get your mind right for Simmons. He's bringing us a championship. And there is no IF. We WILL draft Simmons. You're fighting a losing battle.

[the_process]

Keep dreaming. I think you know we will be drafting Simmons. You might as well just embrace it now. You are right about one hing. The two aren't close. Simmons all the way.

Completely disagree. IF they take Simmons, then we'll see the team demolition Bryan has to do to make him work optimally, and then we'll see if it was all worth it.

HINT: It won't be.

Demolition? Overreact much? Okafor would be traded. That would help us not hurt us. Just get your mind right for Simmons. He's bringing us a championship. And there is no IF. We WILL draft Simmons. You're fighting a losing battle.

I edited my response. My issue with Ben is his head. He will want assurances from BC he's the franchise guy, and will want it built around him. That's assuming he and Rich Paul even agree to come to Philly.

And there will be more guys traded than just Jah if Simmons comes to Philly. That's fact, not overreacting. Dude is a primadonna.

[Ericb5]

Ingram is the pick and it's not close. Those who want Simmons are over projecting and/or bought into the BSPN hype.

Keep dreaming. I think you know we will be drafting Simmons. You might as well just embrace it now. You are right about one hing. The two aren't close. Simmons all the way.

Completely disagree. Simmons is a whiny, entitled, petulant child who will require the team to be demolished to make it work optimally around him. Bryan will be in charge of that. And then we'll see if it was all worth it.

HINT: It won't be.

What team are you referring to when you say it will need to be demolished? The team that just won 10 games?

Come on dude. The Sixers don't currently HAVE a team.

The state of the organization is this:

Simmons and Embiid = The core

Okafor, Noel, Saric, = high level assets that are either going to establish themselves as part of the core, get traded for part of the core, or for ancillary pieces to fill out the roster.

Everything else: candidates for filling out the bench, or trading for pieces to fill out the bench.

That is really where we are. The good thing is that after only 3 years we dug our selves out of a huge hole, and established our core of two potential franchise players, with plenty of ammo to round out everything else in the form of players, picks, and cap space.

The rebuild has been miraculous for such a short period of time, and we have Sam Hinkie to thank for it.

[MGB8]

Yes, Embiid is hypothetically a combination of Shaq, Hakeem, KAT and Sabonis.

People are dreaming - both about Simmons and about Embiid.

Embiid might have some range. Might even be able to shoot 3's occassionally. But right now, he hasn't played in an NBA game. Heck, he hasn't played in a SUMMER LEAGUE game.

If Embiid really is a hit, what are his realistic strengths? Scoring in the paint and defending the paint, right, along with rebounding? Mainly in half court, though solid in transition due to his speed for his size? Basically a better Okafor with much, much more rebounding and defense. And this is only if he is a hit - on the high end. Not if he's something less (or always injured).

Well, if Embiid is a hit, and is a monster in the interior - where does that leave Simmons? Entry passes, while defenders slack off him using zone concepts to harass Embiid?

If Embiid is a miss, and we keep Okafor, who develops on D and rebounding a bit more... how does Simmons work with him?

Simmons might work with Noel at the 5 - focusing on transition ball and with Noel being not a good enough offensive guy to care if you pull him out a bit or use him mainly for screens, garbage, and outlet pick and pops / dives...

Of course, all that assumes that Simmons is a hit, too...

And also that having a 6'10 player at PF is not small ball. That's a very weird way of looking at small ball lol. Yeah having a 6'10 PF is small ball? Um no. If anything it's bigger ball because he can play point at times or SF in spurts. So we will be even bigger with Simmons as a PG or SF. Simmons is a positionless player. You can't really label him. But he's 6'10 so no matter where he is playing there is nothing small about him.

I'm not referring to size. I'm referring to type of play. Simmons is more of LBJ than Kawhi/Durant. Simmons needs to play as primary option ballhandler/scorer at the perimeter to maximize his talent. It's small ball because he will eventually need a stretch 4 than embiid.

While none has been in game action, Embiid has shown range all the way out to the NBA 3 point line. Im not saying he's going to be a stretch 5, but If you have him on the floor, you have to account for him outside of the paint.

Embiid hypothetically is also ideally paired with a stretch 4 at times, so you could have Simmons on the floor with Embiid paired with 3 shooters. Whether its a "stretch 4" or a wing, Simmons' size actually allows you to get a little more creative because you don't necessarily need a classic 4 or even a classic 1.

Simmons with the ball in his hands working a high PNR with Embiid could be devastating.
You have to account for Simmons' ability to take it to the basket.
You have to account for Embiid both rolling and popping out.
You have to worry about Simmons' passing, whether it be to Embiid or to an open shooter on the floor.

Add in the threat of even an slightly improved jump shot and it could be an absolute nightmare to defend.

You could also put Simmons inside where his finishing ability and rebounding become an asset. So you could even down the road have another scorer (think a Wade/Kyrie like combo guard)actually take over at times.

Simmons' versatility allows you to really adapt and play multiple ways...which a plus IMO.

[MGB8]

What team are you referring to when you say it will need to be demolished? The team that just won 10 games?

Come on dude. The Sixers don't currently HAVE a team.

The state of the organization is this:

Simmons and Embiid = The core

Okafor, Noel, Saric, = high level assets that are either going to establish themselves as part of the core, get traded for part of the core, or for ancillary pieces to fill out the roster.

Everything else: candidates for filling out the bench, or trading for pieces to fill out the bench.

That is really where we are. The good thing is that after only 3 years we dug our selves out of a huge hole, and established our core of two potential franchise players, with plenty of ammo to round out everything else in the form of players, picks, and cap space.

The rebuild has been miraculous for such a short period of time, and we have Sam Hinkie to thank for it.

Embiid isn't "the core" because the Sixers have no idea what he is, or if he'll ever play at a high level. He hasn't played one NBA game yet - not even summer league.

But Okafor and Noel are two legit NBA players, and Okafor in particular is a hedge against Embiid failing. Noel, unfortunately, will probably require a ton of money to re-sign after this season... more than he's probably worth... so you have to think about moving him if you aren't willing to pay him. Then you have a few NBA level reserves - Covington and Grant. And you have a giant question mark in Saric.

Between Embiid and Okafor, you should be able to have one very high level NBA starter at the 5 (Okafor's defense will likely come around - he seems like he works on his game). You don't throw that away.

But Simmons, unless he learns to shoot, won't maximize their strengths - they'll clash because their offensive games overlap too much - same way that Melo didn't work at all with Stoudamire in NY - the whole was less than the sum of the parts.

The lower risk Ingram also complements either Embiid or Okafor much better, where he and the big's strengths will be maximized, and gives you more flexibility in terms of the type of PG you can bring in (doesn't have to be as good a shooter)...

[Mik317]

I am going to dread this season with all the sniping from people who have settled in on their trenches. Its going to be the Noel Okafor bull all over again isn't it?

I don't know why people always feel like they have to belittle the other player to prove their points. Team Ingram has spent a lot of time trashing Simmons for every little thing....I like Ingram. Probably more than Simmons...but holy ****, the mud flinging sucks.

[MGB8]

I am going to dread this season with all the sniping from people who have settled in on their trenches. Its going to be the Noel Okafor bull all over again isn't it?

I don't know why people always feel like they have to belittle the other player to prove their points. Team Ingram has spent a lot of time trashing Simmons for every little thing....I like Ingram. Probably more than Simmons...but holy ****, the mud flinging sucks.

No one is "trashing him," per se. There's a reaction to people saying that Simmons is a "generational" or "transcendent" player, on par with Lebron or Magic or even KAT.

That just doesn't ring true, given what he did (and didn't do) at LSU. Simmon's still a blue chip prospect. Still tremendously talented. Still could be a superstar, if he develops his defense and shooting, and the transition from playing college kids at generally smaller schools to playing men doesn't impact his ability to rebound or score in the paint too much.

If I could move Okafor (and a couple late firsts) for Ingram or Simmons, to pair Ingram and Simmons - one at the 4, one at the 3... I would. While Okafor is solid and has his own upside, Simmons higher upside would make the move worthwhile (since basically you are exchanging bigs)...

But some many people just come in with the Lebrons and the "superstar" and the "generational talent" bs - ignoring what actually happened in games, ignoring other very athletic, talented players who have busted, ignoring the red flags and risks.

[Mik317]

I don't think many are actually calling him LeBron level tho. I think most people know that is a bit much. He is however a jumpshot away from being pretty tough to stop...and most of the pro Simmons fam believes he can get that jumper. That is honestly the biggest question mark. Everything else is just natural development. He has to be more engaged on defense. That is most prospects (including Ingram). He has to be more agressive. Another thing most guys have to learn (again including Ingram). Is he LeBron? Hell no. There won't be another LeBron probably ever. That is a once in a lifetime talent. However that isn't the knock on Simmons that people are making it out to be. Again I like Ingram, a lot. He fills a lot of needs but I'm not about to sit here and let Simmons get every little flaw he has magnified to prove a point. Both guys will help this team a lot. This narrative of Simmons being hard to fit is silly. He fits quite well (partially because who gives a **** about anyone on our roster). Jah (*or Noel) will probably have to be moved regardless. If Ingram is the pick..that still will probably be the case. Ingram is a neater fit as he can play the 3 (and 2) whereas that may be a question for Simmons...but bottom line is that both fill a need.

[Ericb5]

I don't think many are actually calling him LeBron level tho. I think most people know that is a bit much. He is however a jumpshot away from being pretty tough to stop...and most of the pro Simmons fam believes he can get that jumper. That is honestly the biggest question mark. Everything else is just natural development. He has to be more engaged on defense. That is most prospects (including Ingram). He has to be more agressive. Another thing most guys have to learn (again including Ingram). Is he LeBron? Hell no. There won't be another LeBron probably ever. That is a once in a lifetime talent. However that isn't the knock on Simmons that people are making it out to be. Again I like Ingram, a lot. He fills a lot of needs but I'm not about to sit here and let Simmons get every little flaw he has magnified to prove a point. Both guys will help this team a lot. This narrative of Simmons being hard to fit is silly. He fits quite well (partially because who gives a **** about anyone on our roster). Jah (*or Noel) will probably have to be moved regardless. If Ingram is the pick..that still will probably be the case. Ingram is a neater fit as he can play the 3 (and 2) whereas that may be a question for Simmons...but bottom line is that both fill a need.

Nobody is saying he is Lebron or Magic. We are saying that he is stylistically like them, and is destined to be a superstar. Saying he reminds me of Lebron is not the same thing as saying that I think he is going to be Lebron. I DO think that he is a franchise player though, who will eventually contend for MVP's. If he does that, then people will someday say that young elite prospects could be the next Ben Simmons and people like you will balk.

I think it is totally fair to use the names of great players when talking about the potential of people like Simmons and Embiid.

It is the nature of the beast that people dig in on their opinions, and the people that are less mature then start deriding the other side.

To me Simmons is far and away better than Ingram, and I'm surprised that now that we suddenly have the choice between the two of them that there are so many people wanting to take Ingram over him. I thought the board had reached a consensus a few months ago that there was Simmons in tier 1, Ingram in tier 2, and then a bunch of guys behind them.

[eagereyez]

Completely disagree. IF they take Simmons, then we'll see the team demolition Bryan has to do to make him work optimally, and then we'll see if it was all worth it.

HINT: It won't be.

Demolition? Overreact much? Okafor would be traded. That would help us not hurt us. Just get your mind right for Simmons. He's bringing us a championship. And there is no IF. We WILL draft Simmons. You're fighting a losing battle.

I edited my response. My issue with Ben is his head. He will want assurances from BC he's the franchise guy, and will want it built around him. That's assuming he and Rich Paul even agree to come to Philly.

And there will be more guys traded than just Jah if Simmons comes to Philly. That's fact, not overreacting. Dude is a primadonna.

Jesus man are you his therapist or something?

[Mik317]

I don't think many are actually calling him LeBron level tho. I think most people know that is a bit much. He is however a jumpshot away from being pretty tough to stop...and most of the pro Simmons fam believes he can get that jumper. That is honestly the biggest question mark. Everything else is just natural development. He has to be more engaged on defense. That is most prospects (including Ingram). He has to be more agressive. Another thing most guys have to learn (again including Ingram). Is he LeBron? Hell no. There won't be another LeBron probably ever. That is a once in a lifetime talent. However that isn't the knock on Simmons that people are making it out to be. Again I like Ingram, a lot. He fills a lot of needs but I'm not about to sit here and let Simmons get every little flaw he has magnified to prove a point. Both guys will help this team a lot. This narrative of Simmons being hard to fit is silly. He fits quite well (partially because who gives a **** about anyone on our roster). Jah (*or Noel) will probably have to be moved regardless. If Ingram is the pick..that still will probably be the case. Ingram is a neater fit as he can play the 3 (and 2) whereas that may be a question for Simmons...but bottom line is that both fill a need.

Nobody is saying he is Lebron or Magic. We are saying that he is stylistically like them, and is destined to be a superstar. Saying he reminds me of Lebron is not the same thing as saying that I think he is going to be Lebron. I DO think that he is a franchise player though, who will eventually contend for MVP's. If he does that, then people will someday say that young elite prospects could be the next Ben Simmons and people like you will balk.

I think it is totally fair to use the names of great players when talking about the potential of people like Simmons and Embiid.

It is the nature of the beast that people dig in on their opinions, and the people that are less mature then start deriding the other side.

To me Simmons is far and away better than Ingram, and I'm surprised that now that we suddenly have the choice between the two of them that there are so many people wanting to take Ingram over him. I thought the board had reached a consensus a few months ago that there was Simmons in tier 1, Ingram in tier 2, and then a bunch of guys behind them.

Ingram had a better finish to his year than Simmons. That and his easier fit probably had a lot of people switch. Simmons last few weeks of college were pretty bad in a lot of facets. Whether that is fair or not is another story.

[rzzzzz]

well Brett wasn't shy about dropping the "Magic" and "LeBron" comparisons during his interviews these last couple of days. all while playing up the family connection. he repeated his assertion that bigs with multiple skills, ie. Simmons and Saric, would be great playing off one another. and he keeps gushing about how good Embiid's rehab is going. 'bout the only thing he's keeping close to the vest is the Jahlil/Nerlens situation. don't mean that it's not all staged to take the focus on an Ingram move, etc. but at face value, it sure seems like he's talking a Simmons/Saric/Embiid core.

[skulky]

I don't think many are actually calling him LeBron level tho. I think most people know that is a bit much. He is however a jumpshot away from being pretty tough to stop...and most of the pro Simmons fam believes he can get that jumper. That is honestly the biggest question mark. Everything else is just natural development. He has to be more engaged on defense. That is most prospects (including Ingram). He has to be more agressive. Another thing most guys have to learn (again including Ingram). Is he LeBron? Hell no. There won't be another LeBron probably ever. That is a once in a lifetime talent. However that isn't the knock on Simmons that people are making it out to be. Again I like Ingram, a lot. He fills a lot of needs but I'm not about to sit here and let Simmons get every little flaw he has magnified to prove a point. Both guys will help this team a lot. This narrative of Simmons being hard to fit is silly. He fits quite well (partially because who gives a **** about anyone on our roster). Jah (*or Noel) will probably have to be moved regardless. If Ingram is the pick..that still will probably be the case. Ingram is a neater fit as he can play the 3 (and 2) whereas that may be a question for Simmons...but bottom line is that both fill a need.

Nobody is saying he is Lebron or Magic. We are saying that he is stylistically like them, and is destined to be a superstar. Saying he reminds me of Lebron is not the same thing as saying that I think he is going to be Lebron. I DO think that he is a franchise player though, who will eventually contend for MVP's. If he does that, then people will someday say that young elite prospects could be the next Ben Simmons and people like you will balk.

I think it is totally fair to use the names of great players when talking about the potential of people like Simmons and Embiid.

It is the nature of the beast that people dig in on their opinions, and the people that are less mature then start deriding the other side.

To me Simmons is far and away better than Ingram, and I'm surprised that now that we suddenly have the choice between the two of them that there are so many people wanting to take Ingram over him. I thought the board had reached a consensus a few months ago that there was Simmons in tier 1, Ingram in tier 2, and then a bunch of guys behind them.

+1
I agree with your tiers. Before the lottery i would have been content with being in a position to draft either, but getting number 1 I just think Simmons is a step above as a prospect. I think a lot of people fell in love with ingram's measurements.

[MGB8]

Nobody is saying he is Lebron or Magic. We are saying that he is stylistically like them, and is destined to be a superstar. Saying he reminds me of Lebron is not the same thing as saying that I think he is going to be Lebron. I DO think that he is a franchise player though, who will eventually contend for MVP's. If he does that, then people will someday say that young elite prospects could be the next Ben Simmons and people like you will balk.

I think it is totally fair to use the names of great players when talking about the potential of people like Simmons and Embiid.

[snipped]

He's "destined to be a superstar" based on what, exactly? Based on his stats, on a bad LSU team? He had very good stats of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2 steals, 0.8 blocks (from a center) along with 3.4 turnovers per game. But some of that was garbage time buckets and boards vs. good team, or beating up on much weaker no-name college teams.

And let's not forget that Michael Beasley averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.9 turnovers per game.... and he has not become a "superstar." Derrick Williams as a 19 year old sophomore (same age as Simmons about) slightly improved on his frosh season and averaged 19.5 and 8.3. Lamar Odom averaged 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 3.4 turnovers...

Or look at Kyle Anderson, who on a good team averaged 14.6 pts, 8.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game... but so far isn't much in the NBA... while Zach Lavine, who averaged only 9.4, 2.5 and 1.8 pts/reb/assits looks like he could be a star. And Towns only averaged 10.3 and 6.7... though with 2.3 rebounds...

So it isn't just stats. It's stats plus something more - certainly athletic ability and skillset have to play into the mix. But here's the problem - Simmons is not as good an athlete as Blake Griffin or Lebron James. And while he very good passing skills (though getting only 4.8 assists for a guy with his usage...) and good ball handling for his size, it's not Lebron level for when he came into the league, at all.

[Unbreakable99]

Nobody is saying he is Lebron or Magic. We are saying that he is stylistically like them, and is destined to be a superstar. Saying he reminds me of Lebron is not the same thing as saying that I think he is going to be Lebron. I DO think that he is a franchise player though, who will eventually contend for MVP's. If he does that, then people will someday say that young elite prospects could be the next Ben Simmons and people like you will balk.

I think it is totally fair to use the names of great players when talking about the potential of people like Simmons and Embiid.

[snipped]

He's "destined to be a superstar" based on what, exactly? Based on his stats, on a bad LSU team? He had solid stats of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2 steals, 0.8 blocks (from a center) along with 3.4 turnovers per game.

But Michael Beasley averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.9 turnovers per game.... and he has not become a "superstar." Derrick Williams as a 19 year old sophomore (same age as Simmons about) slightly improved on his frosh season and averaged 19.5 and 8.3. Lamar Odom averaged 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 3.4 turnovers...

Or look at Kyle Anderson, who on a good team averaged 14.6 pts, 8.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game... but so far isn't much in the NBA... while Zach Lavine, who averaged only 9.4, 2.5 and 1.8 pts/reb/assits looks like he could be a star. And Towns only averaged 10.3 and 6.7... though with 2.3 rebounds...

So it isn't just stats. It's stats plus something more - certainly athletic ability and skillset have to play into the mix. But here's the problem - Simmons is not as good an athlete as Blake Griffin or Lebron James. And while he very good passing skills (though getting only 4.8 assists for a guy with his usage...) and good ball handling for his size, it's not Lebron level for when he came into the league, at all.

I'm tired of these Beasley comparisons. Beasley does not have the basketball IQ of Simmons. He also doesn't t have the handles or passing as him either. The other players you listed as well. Simmons is going to be a star. He was born for this. This decision is not really tough. It's not really a decision anyway. Simmons will be the guy.