Ben Simmons has been everybody’s presumptive number one pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. That scenario would obviously place him in Philadelphia as a 76er, leaving Brandon Ingram for the Los Angeles Lakers’ taking. As it so happens, Simmons has been promised the honor of being selected first overall.
This morning Philadelphia 76ers informed camp of Ben Simmons he would be taken No. 1 in NBA Draft, league sources tell @clevelanddotcom.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 21, 2016
Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes confirmed earlier reports of the 76ers informing Simmons he will be taken with their number one selection. “The Process” has paid off for Philly, giving them a potential franchise player to give them life from their franchise’s ashes.
There is little chance, sources say, Simmons’ agent Rich Paul would have granted Philly permission to hold a workout without such a promise.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 21, 2016
Superagent Rich Paul, who represents both LeBron James and Simmons, likely wouldn’t have granted Philadelphia a workout without confirmation that his client would be chosen first overall, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
With Simmons now off the board, the Lakers can select Duke’s Brandon Ingram, who has had quite the journey to get to the NBA. Ingram and Los Angeles are a perfect fit for each other; Ingram filling a gaping need on the wing, and the Lakers having a young core (and coach) which Ingram can grow along with.
It is all but written in stone (it is on Twitter, however) that Simmons will be a 76er, and evidently, Ingram will be a Los Angeles Laker. The future is bright for both teams, but things tend to shine more in Los Angeles.
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