A lean but not a final decision, Bryan Colangelo said a few days ago while declining to get more specific, namely the direction. That’s all the president of basketball operations has for now as the 76ers enter the final days of weighing options for the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. A tilt.
Maybe they will choose Ben Simmons of LSU. That would make sense. Simmons is a rare talent, a point power forward who can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break toward the other end, a distributor who can deliver crisp passes in half-court sets at 6-10, all surrounded by an advanced feel for the game for someone coming off one college season. His unique skill set for that size has led front offices outside Philadelphia to make staggering comparisons with past players.
Maybe they will choose Brandon Ingram of Duke. That would make sense. Teams regard Ingram as more mature and therefore a safer bet to reach his potential, although a potential with a lower ceiling. Ingram is also a true scorer at small forward, projected to be able to hurt defenses from the perimeter and by getting to the rim, and the 76ers need shooters with range and anyone who can put up points.
“You can make an argument either way, that Brandon Ingram would fit well and that Ben Simmons would fit well,” Colangelo said. “That’s the discussion, those are the conversations that we’re having to try to determine not just which player will ultimately have the better career and achieve a higher status, but which player is the best fit as well. It’s a combination of things for us. When you look at both it’s pretty hard to imagine that either one would be a wrong choice. It’s a good position to be in.”
Simmons is the consensus choice of rival teams, No. 1 in the latest NBA.com mock draft, some support remains for Ingram to be the first name off the board next Thursday, and the only vote that matters has not been cast. The 76ers, Colangelo said, are still contemplating.
The internal debate is likely real, not a show to drive up trade offers because Philly isn’t looking for a deal nor fielding anything more than brief, superficial bids. There have been numerous conversations about moving Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel, a decision that could bring another lottery pick, but this specific show, the call when commissioner Adam Silver steps to the podium at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, appears destined to be the Sixers’ alone.
“You’ve got to take Simmons and be done with it,” one rival executive said. “I like Ingram a lot. But I think Simmons will be very effective. He fills a lot of needs for them.”
As a primary ball handler, even without being anything close to a traditional point guard.
The ability to play fast, a fit for coach Brett Brown’s system.
The rebounding, after the 76ers finished 28th on the boards by percentage, with the chance to improve even more if center Joel Embiid gets on the court after injury cost him what should have been the first two seasons.
The biggest counter is that Simmons is not a good shooter. If he doesn’t get in transition, opponents will back off on the perimeter, play him to pass and negate much of Simmons’ offense. Beyond that, there are concerns that Simmons is, in the words of one general manager, a prima donna who comes off as entitled after years of life as a prodigy in his native Australia before attending high school in Florida and spending a season at LSU.
“I know he’s not a great shooter,” one scout said. “But look at everything else he brings to the court. He’s the best passer in the draft outside of (Providence point guard) Kris Dunn. The guy’s got a huge basketball IQ.”
And then the ultimate in bottom-line assessments from the same talent evaluator: “He’s LeBron James physically with Magic Johnson’s passing. It’s ridiculous…. The way he plays, the game slows down for him.”
Whoa.
Ingram is a direct contrast, making the debate more interesting. He carries himself well despite being just 18, approximately 10 ½ months younger than Simmons. He is thin at 6-9 and 190 pounds, leading a general manager to suggest, “You can’t expect anything out of him next year. He’s so weak it’s crazy.” He shot 41 percent behind the arc, and was Duke’s leading scorer in the tournament, with an average of 23 points in three games along with 6.3 rebounds, while LSU failed to make the postseason.
“I would pick Brandon before Ben,” said another GM, holding firm in the pro-Ingram camp. “It’s simple. If you’re supposed to be the best pro prospect in a year you need to get your team to the tournament. I can’t close my eyes and pretend you didn’t get your team to the tournament. You’re supposed to be the No. 1 pick.”
Simmons may be days away from being the actual No. 1 pick. That’s reality, not a lean. He has a strong case for the spot. Ingram has a case. The 76ers, they have a decision.
Scott Howard-Cooper has covered the NBA since 1988. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter.
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