NBA Draft: 5 reasons 76ers should draft Brandon Ingram No. 1
By Tom West
4. The 76ers can draft the ideal modern wing
The comparisons to between Brandon Ingram and Kevin Durant are premature and inaccurate based on their abilities after coming out of college. From a physical standpoint, though, with Ingram’s quickness, 6’9″ frame with a 7’3″ wingspan and standing reach just over 9’0″, there’s no doubt that he’s made in an almost identical mold.
Yet, despite having the power forward type size, Ingram moves with the quickness and fluidity of a guard.
More than ever, team’s like shooting and versatility. With Ingram, as he develops into someone who can guard several positions at a high level and already shot 41 percent with Duke last season, he has the makeup of an almost dream-like 3-and-D player with ridiculous length to add even more upside.
Sports Illustrated’s Luke Winn spoke with NBA executives to get their take on what Ingram has to offer, and the following answer perfectly describes why he fits well in the league before even considering how much Philadelphia needs him:
"“He’s what teams are looking for right now, from a standpoint of how the game is becoming more position-less and focused on versatile skill sets,” one NBA front-office member says of Ingram, on condition of anonymity. “You can see it in the playoffs right now: Teams are cross-matching defensively, and the record for threes in a playoff game gets broken [by the Cavaliers]. … Ingram walks in the door with that combination of wingspan, shooting and ballhandling, so until the [NBA] trend shifts to something else, there’s not going to be an issue with him fitting in.”"
As that unnamed front-office member said, there are no question marks about whether Ingram can fit in. In terms of both the 76ers’ needs at the perimeter and the style of today’s NBA, Ingram leaves college as a seamless fit, possessing the skill and length that should allow him to grow into the type of wing who can help define what the league has become.
And remember, 18-year-old Ingram is the youngest collegiate player in the 2016 Draft and only had his growth spurts late. Once he starts adding muscle onto his frail body, he can be an excellent perimeter building block.
This smoothly brings us onto the next point, which revolves around just how much his shooting can help the 76ers.
Next: 3. The 76ers need Ingram's shooting