NBA Draft: 5 destinations for Brandon Ingram
By John Buhler
Could Ingram end up being the star player that the Philadelphia 76ers have hopelessly tanked their last three seasons for? Philadelphia will have a 25% to win the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery with the worst record in the NBA. The Sixers are a league-worst 9-62 through their first 71 games.
Philadelphia has tried to build their future roster through big bodies like Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and Joel Embiid, but haven’t been able to draft that go-to scorer off the block. Ingram would play the three for the 76ers and would give head coach Brett Brown another gaudy wingspan to use defensively.
Unlike for NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, Ingram doesn’t project as an inefficient high-volume shooter. Though he will likely need a competent point guard to play most effectively on offense, Ingram should be able to generate his own shot at the point forward if need be.
While Philadelphia could go with Simmons No. 1 overall should the 76ers end up winning the NBA Draft Lottery, Ingram seems like a better fit for what the Sixers are trying to build their team. Simmons is more of a slasher and ball-handler, but Ingram can shoot and projects as an Antetokounmpo type of defensive player.
It almost feels like he has a slightly higher upside than Simmons, but even if that isn’t the case, Ingram is a better fit for Philadelphia than Simmons would be in the short-term and possibly even in the long term. If they have their choice, the Sixers need to go with Ingram in the 2016 NBA Draft.
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