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NBA Draft: 5 best destinations for Ben Simmons

By John Buhler

Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) looks on from the court in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) looks on from the court in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis out with a left knee injury looks on from the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis out with a left knee injury looks on from the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 69. . West. Southwest. New Orleans Pelicans. 3

The New Orleans Pelicans decided to shut down All-Star power forward Anthony Davis a few days ago and this means that the surprisingly bad 2015-16 Pelicans are sending a message that they are unfortunately mailing it in.

Through 69 games, the Pelicans 26-43, in 12th place in the Western Conference, and boast the sixth-worst record in the NBA. Getting either the No. 1 or No. 2 pick to nab Simmons isn’t likely, but not hopelessly unrealistic. If the Pelicans do get the opportunity to draft Simmons, New Orleans won’t pass up LSU’s best pro prospect since Shaquille O’Neal.

Simmons to the Pelicans makes sense for several reasons. He’d be the perfect running mate at forward with Davis for the next decade at point forward. The LSU/New Orleans connection will make him a local superstar and bring even more attention to what the Pelicans do on the hardwood by joining up with Davis in NOLA.

Perhaps most importantly, the Pelicans are devoid of talent at most positions and Simmons will be able to play his brand of basketball most freely with New Orleans than on any roster in the NBA. Simmons to New Orleans would essentially mean that the Pelicans won’t keep sharp shooting small forward Ryan Anderson. Simmons would then undoubtedly be the second-best player on the Pelicans behind only Davis.

That’s not a bad thing, as Simmons and Davis at both forward spots gives the Pelicans a foundation to compete in the brutal Western Conference for the next decade. It seems like their games complement each other so well, that this could give off somewhat of a Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook vibe like they have with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Basically, what this means is that Davis and Simmons could carry an otherwise mediocre roster deep into the Western Conference Playoffs on their talent alone, generating nearly all the Pelicans’ offensive production. Whether or not Alvin Gentry remains the head coach is up in the air, but if the Pelicans get their opportunity to draft Simmons, there is absolutely no way they pass up this potentially transcendent talent.

Next: 2. Los Angeles Lakers

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