Philadelphia 76ers ‘Know’ Which Player They’d Pick If NBA Draft Was Today

The 2016 NBA Draft will take place on June 23 with the Philadelphia 76ers owners of the first overall pick. Although it is considered to be a weak draft in the talent department this year, the top-two prospects have superstar potential with LSU’s Ben Simmons leading the way followed by Duke’s Brandon Ingram.

With less than a month to go, the consensus seems to be Simmons will be the first name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Simmons has received high praise over the last year or so with comparisons to NBA greats like LeBron James and Magic Johnson.

Although the 76ers have yet to publicly endorse Simmons or Ingram as the player they intend to draft on June 23, general manager Bryan Colangelo claims the team knows who they’d pick if the draft took place today, via Philadelphia Magazine:

In an interview with Howard Eskin on 94 WIP, Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo admitted to knowing what he would do with the first pick if the draft were held today.

“Yes,” Colangelo responded. “I know what I would do today.”

As I reported over the weekend, multiple sources with knowledge of the Sixers’ thought process say it is LSU forward Ben Simmons who Colangelo is leaning towards selecting first overall in June 23rd’s NBA Draft.

Simmons is considered to be a superstar-caliber talent with a versatile style of play that doesn’t come around very often in the NBA. The Australian can run the floor with impressive ball-handling skills and possesses a passing ability that’s second to none in this draft class.

The biggest flaw in Simmons’ game ahead of the draft is his shooting ability. Simmons is nowhere near the shooter that Ingram is and in today’s NBA shooting is highly valued. Although Ingram doesn’t have the same “wow” factor regarding athleticism or passing skills, the Duke product can stretch the floor and may be the safer pick.