NBA Draft 2016: 5 players Philadelphia 76ers need to target

5. Ben Simmons – LSU

What is there to really say about Ben Simmons that hasn’t already said by roughly 10 million people leading up to the draft. His detractors are going to say, “Yeah, but he can’t shoot” and his supporters are going to ignore it. Not to single anyone out, but if you’re harping on the fact that Simmons isn’t an elite NBA shooter when he’s as young as he is, you’re severely missing the point.

Simmons is a unique blend of size, athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ that you really don’t see but once in a blue moon. While the lack of success of his team at LSU is at least mildly concerning, it would appear that was no fault of Simmons’. He quite literally did it all for his team as their primary scoring option on the interior, their primary ball-handler in many situations, and as an absolute force on the boards and even defensively on occasion.

If there is one thing that’s interesting, it’s that Simmons doesn’t fit particularly well with the Sixers’ current roster. While they’re clearly trying to remedy that by putting Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel on the trade block, it’s still somewhat of an issue that exists. When you’re as bad as Philly has been, though, you can’t pass on a potential transcendent talent like Simmons because of something like fit. Because really, what the hell does it matter if a team fits into a 10-win team or not?

Next: No. 4 Valentine