NBA Draft 2017: 5 best fits for Lonzo Ball
By Chris Stone
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Now, we can dive into some of the more likely fits for Ball at the top of the draft starting with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have the No. 3 pick and if Ball falls into their laps, they should gladly snatch him up to pair him with the likes of Dario Saric, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to form one of the best young cores in the league.
Philadelphia views Simmons as its primary ball-handler of the future. At first, that might seem at odds with the way that many analysts see Ball. The 6-foot-6 guard, though, may be at his best in a secondary role against NBA defenders because of his creation struggles. Instead, with Simmons often initiating the offense, Ball would be able to more regularly attack already moving defenses both off the bounce and with his passing acumen.
Playing Ball off the ball also magnifies the value of his shooting stroke in ways that don’t show up in the box score. Ball has legitimate 30-foot range on his jump shot, which means that teams won’t be able to sag off him on the perimeter. The 76ers could use that space to open up driving lanes, cutting space and room for Embiid to operate on the low block.
The key question here is obviously whether or not Ball would be willing to accept such a role. If he would, then Philadelphia represents one of the best landing spots for the Bruin because of his potential as a secondary creator.