2. player. 20. Simmons falling to the Lakers would be an interesting fit, as he likely would allow the Lakers to experiment with getting more off-ball minutes for D’Angelo Russell’s developing catch-and-shoot ability, and Simmons’s strong rebounding numbers (26.5 defensive rebound rate) could pair well next to Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle. Playing next to a developing point guard would also mean that Simmons’s passing would be a nice alternative option, rather than the focal point. Simmons’s passing was rare for a guy with power forward size, as he assisted on 27.4 percent of teammate baskets this past season. However, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between the level of passing ability a player needs to be the focal point in college and that needed to excel in an NBA offense. Simmons may not quite be at that level, and may be better served playing off of Russell in more of a Draymond Green-style playmaking role. <p>Defensively, Simmons has good tools as a disruptor, as evidenced by his impressive 3.1 percent steal rate and 2.5 percent block rate. His shot blocking may not translate well to the NBA due to his 6’10” wingspan, but Simmons does have the foot speed and awareness to still be a solid helpside defender at the NBA level. When he’s engaged, he’s dominant as both an on and off-ball defender. I worry about his defensive development on the Lakers, a porous defensive team with a coach in Byron Scott that has a poor track record of developing young players on this side of the ball. However, if he can just be average on this end, his multi-faceted offensive game will allow him to become a very strong weapon in the right situation.</p> <p><em>To learn more about Ben Simmons, <a href=. PF. LSU. Ben Simmons
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