Ben Simmons, LSU

Age: 19 years old     Size: 6’10, 240 pounds

Last Season’s Stats: 19.2 points; 11.9 rebounds; 4.8 assists

Percentages: 56% from the field, 33.1% from three (only three attempts); 67% from the free throw line

Ben Simmons is as non-traditional as a prospect gets. His game relies on transition opportunities, uncanny vision, creative passing and a low-post game that is slowly coming together. While his talent is unquestioned, it is how his skills translate to the NBA that will tell if he is the next superstar of the Association or if he is just another versatile “tweener” with ridiculous point guard abilities.

No one can deny the immense talent that is Ben Simmons. His vision is that of a hawk. He uses his comically large hands as cannons that hurl passes all around the court to whomever he pleases. His ball-handling skills, especially in transition, are superb for a player of his stature and size. He is able to find his teammates on the court like a bat using echolocation. His skillset is one that is rarely seen in the NBA.

While his proficiencies are many, so are his deficiencies. For as terrorizing as Simmons is in transition he has absolutely no jump shot. Simmons made 14-45 jump shots all year. Not only does he not take open shots but he blatantly avoids them. On top of that, he has a strange desire to avoid contact. For someone who is 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds as a 19 year old contact should be welcomed. This has led to his offensive game becoming predictable and easily scouted.

Simmons is also only an explosive leaper with a full head of steam. He struggles contesting shots at the rim and with his second jump ability. With only having a wingspan of 6-foot-11 he will never be a rim protector either. His red flags do not stop there. Simmons has been known as somewhat lazy and aloof on the court, especially on the defensive end. He rarely contests jumpers or shots at the rim. He does not fight for rebounds on either end of the floor and has been known to only want to make the “flashy” play. This has led to a 17 percent turnover rate. For a player who essentially quit on his team at LSU and only plays for himself it is extremely difficult for me to see him as a better prospect than Ingram.

Ben Simmons is not going to fall out of the top two. There is no denying that. He is not a player the Nuggets will have an opportunity to trade up and get either being that the 76ers have already put Nerlens Noel and Jahil Okafor on the trade block to make room for the enigmatic point forward. All signs point toward the mysterious Ben Simmons as the first pick in the draft.