NBA Draft 2016: 76ers draft Ben Simmons No. 1

The Philadelphia 76ers have selected LSU forward Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

After three straight seasons of losing on a grandiose scale, the Sixers hope Simmons will be the franchise player who can help them take a big step forward in their rebuild. The addition of another big man doesn’t help Philadelphia’s logjam in the frontcourt, but don’t be surprised if there’s a trade in the near future to balance out the roster.

Simmons arrived in Baton Rouge last year from Melbourne, Australia, with much fanfare as the Tigers’ best recruit since Shaquille O’Neal. He largely lived up to the hype as one of college hoops’ most productive freshmen in recent memory, using his stunning combination of size and athleticism to become the first player since Ron Harper in 1984 to average 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists per game. However, LSU missed the NCAA Tournament entirely, raising questions about Simmons’ leadership ability and focus.

At 6’10 and 240 pounds, Simmons brings incredible lateral quickness and body control for his size. Combined with his court vision, ball handling and passing skills, it’s easy to see why Simmons was widely considered one of the best prospects in the draft. Few players with his length and strength move so naturally on the court.

Here’s Simmons crossing up a defender and going reverse for the slam against then-No. 1 Oklahoma:

That’s a big-time athlete.

What Simmons doesn’t have is a flawless resume. While he’s been touted as an up-and-coming star for years, the 19-year-old has never developed a consistent jump shot. He shot 56 percent at LSU primarily by overwhelming defenders with his size and ballhandling. Over the course of the season, he took just three shot attempts from beyond the arc. While many players improve significantly as shooters after going pro, Simmons’ struggles have led to suggestions that he might be shooting with the wrong hand.

In the NBA, defenders will be able to sag off Simmons and make it harder for him to attack the basket unless he can develop that jumper. So while it’s encouraging that Simmons could be seen nailing threes during training in the lead up to the draft, it’s the obvious flaw in his game that must be addressed if he’s going to reach his full potential. There just aren’t many elite players in the NBA who go the entire season not shooting threes like Simmons did at LSU.

The other question mark regarding Simmons stems from his inability to turn the Tigers into a more successful team. LSU went just 19-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament, even though Simmons was putting up huge numbers each game. Obviously for scouts, the individual performance is more telling than whether his team wins or loses, but usually when a team lands an elite one-and-done like Simmons, it can expect a boost. Instead, the Tigers won three fewer games compared to the 2014-15 season.

But through it all, Simmons remained at or near the top of draft boards throughout the year because of the potential he has if he figures out how to shoot from deep. It’s such a crucial part to the modern NBA forward’s game that there’s the possibility his lack of progress there prevents him from reaching his ceiling, but Simmons could become one of the best all-around players in the league if he can at least keep defenders honest. He’s that gifted in other aspects of the game, which is why he dominated so often at LSU and ended up being the top draft pick.