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NBA Draft 2016: 5 reasons 76ers should draft Ben Simmons with top pick

By Andrew C. Lovell

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Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) drives to the basket for a lay up against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of game seven of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. LSU won 84-75. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) drives to the basket for a lay up against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of game seven of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. LSU won 84-75. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Upside

Potential. You know, that undefinable quality every general manager, coach and fan seeks to unearth in prospects. There’s something intrinsically rewarding about seeing a good, young player develop into a great player.

It’s a fine line to walk, however. Teams don’t usually want a complete project that’s years away from contributing (though the 76ers have bucked that trend in recent seasons). Simmons will be able to step into a major role right away for Philadelphia. No one is questioning that.

But Simmons also has serious room to grow, and that’s the appealing part if you’re sitting in the 76ers’ front office.

The 2016 draft features a number of great prospects, including Duke forward Brandon Ingram, Kentucky guard Jamal Murray, Providence guard Kris Dunn and Croatian forward Dragan Bender, among others.

All of those players, especially Ingram, have a chance to become high-impact players. But the 2016 draft has, unfairly or not, been considered a two-player draft for a reason — Simmons and Ingram are a cut above.

Ingram is the better shooter, but Simmons has the higher ceiling. That upside is just one of the reasons Philadelphia is leaning heavily toward taking Simmons, according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding.

Next: No. 2: Roster flexibility

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