Disclaimer: This piece does not reflect the views of the Minnesota Timberwolves organization.
Freshman, F, LSU
6’10”, 240 lbs
7’0.25 wingspan, 9’0.5″ standing reach, 7.0 percent body fat, 37.0 no step vertical, 41.5 max vertical
*measurements from LSU in 2015
College Stats In 2014-15
33 games, 34.9 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 56 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 67 FT%
Where He’ll Go:
Simmons is expected to be a top-2 pick.
Best Game In 2015-16
On Dec. 2, Simmons was remarkable in a 119-108 home win over North Florida. Simmons finished with a season-high 43 points to go with 14 rebounds, seven assists, five steals and three blocks.
Simmons was efficient, shooting 15-for-20 from the field and 15-for-20 from the free-throw line. Simmons played a team-high 37 minutes in the win.
Strengths
Simmons has an NBA body and at 6’10”, he could find himself playing power forward in the league which is incredible when you consider how great of a passer he is. People have compared his court vision to Magic Johnson and LeBron James. That’s no joke. Simmons is an incredible facilitator.
He moves fluidly and while he isn’t a great shooter (more on this in a bit), he does have great touch around the basket.
It’s obvious when looking at Simmons that he can be a great defender at the next level. He wasn’t great in college, but when paired with the right coach, Simmons could be a great two-way player.
Weaknesses
Simmons went into this season as the highest-ranked player, some even giving him the James and Kevin Durant treatment.
Well, we might have to pump the brakes on that but that’s not to say he’s not going to be really, really good.
Simmons isn’t a great shooter. At times last season, defenders just kind of backed off of him. He got to the basket almost at will, but it was because of his athleticism, not his ball handling. That’s something that also needs work.
These are all things that were nitpicked with Simmons being the ultra No. 1 at LSU. That could all change when he’s not the main focus of the defense, though.
Ratke’s Take
His stock fell throughout the season, but he’s probably still going to be a top-2 pick. He’ll need to improve his shooting and ball handling, but his body is NBA ready (he’ll continue to grow) and his passing ability for his size is generational.
Twitter Talk
Remember this about Ben Simmons. In league where speed’s at all-time premium, he immediately makes your team faster w/handle/passing @ 6-10.
