2016 NBA Mock Draft: Boston lands Bender

2016 NBA Mock Draft: Boston lands international standout Dragan Bender

By Chris Stone | Apr 21, 2016

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

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Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) controls the ball 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 /

Ben Simmons. 1. player. 93. <p>The race for the number one pick is a two horse contest between LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram. There are certainly viable reasons for selecting Ingram at the top of the draft given the ease with which he’ll fit on a modern NBA roster, but Simmons is simply too talented and productive to turn down.</p> <p>While Simmons’ Tigers stumbled their way through the season and ultimately missed the NCAA Tournament, the 19-year-old Australian delivered one of the best freshmen years in recent memory. Among freshmen who played significant minutes (1,000+), Simmons is just one of ten players since 2010-11 to finish the season with a box plus/minus rating higher than 10.0, <a href=. PF. LSU

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