LSU Tigers’ Ben Simmons reportedly plans to sign with LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports with the hopes of going No. 1 in the 2016 NBA Draft.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical of Yahoo! Sports, freshman phenom of the LSU Tigers Ben Simmons plans to sign with Klutch Sports as his pro representation as he enters the 2016 NBA Draft. Simmons will reportedly have Rich Paul as his professional agent, the same man who represents Cleveland Cavaliers point forward LeBron James.
Like James did in 2003, Simmons has immense aspirations of going No. 1 in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Australian native spent his lone collegiate season playing hoops in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the Tigers in the SEC, but absolutely will forgo his final three years of eligibility as a certain one-and-done.
Simmons during his time at LSU was often praised as the greatest college freshman basketball players since the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant spent his lone college year at the University of Texas playing for Rick Barnes in the Big 12 before going No. 2 to the then Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft.
While Simmons certainly made his mark with his outstanding play in the SEC in 2015-16, his Tigers scuffled down the stretch under head Johnny Jones. LSU in the matter of weeks went from NCAA Tournament lock to not even wanting to play in the NIT after floundering in the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee.
Choosing to sign with Paul of Klutch Sports helps ensure that Simmons’ draft stock won’t be affected by a horrendous February/March for the Tigers in SEC play. The player, if there is one, most likely to jump over Simmons to be the No. 1 overall draft pick this spring is Duke’s Brandon Ingram.
Both players are expected to go one and two this spring, but by hiring Paul and Klutch Sports to represent Simmons, it helps ensure that Simmons will go No. 1 to whatever team ends up winning the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery.
Wojnarowski also points out that Simmons’ older sister has worked for Klutch Sports since 2014, so Simmons’ decision to sign with Paul’s company seems like a no-brainer at this point.
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