Should the Lakers simply keep the pick they already have, they could land LSU’s multi-talented Ben Simmons or Duke’s supremely-skilled Brandon Ingram.
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The Los Angeles Lakers will be selecting 2nd and the Boston Celtics will stay in 3rd, having the chance to add another young talent to their roster or package the pick along with some of their countless assets to pull off a blockbuster trade.
The Boston Celtics will get the third pick.
There were smiles, hugs and back slaps all around among the Sixers’ contingent at the New York Hilton Midtown once they realized they would have the top selection in the June 23 draft. The Philadelphia 76ers have the first overall pick, and they will pick LSU’s Ben Simmons. They’ve been a bit secretive with the medical side of things with Embiid, simply because the media could take some of the information and have a field day.
Nobody moved up in the lottery, which sets the top three picks.
As the 2016 NBA Draft looms large, top prospect Ben Simmons and his standing in basketball is unquestionable according to Kevin Goorjian, who insists “if you get the number one pick and you don’t take him you should be fired”. If the Lakers had fallen outside of the first three selections, that pick would have conveyed to Philadelphia. The combo forward averaged 17.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, and was a pivotal factor in pushing SJU to its highest win total and first NCAA victory since the school’s memorable 2003-2004 run.
Among the players who could be available at the No. 10 spot are Kentucky power forward Skal Labissiere, Michigan State power forward Deyonta Davis, Utah center Jakob Poeltl, Washington power forward Marquese Chriss and Michigan State shooting guard Denzel Valentine. I don’t know of any Australians in All-Star teams.
Either way, the Lakers were the real winners of Thursday night’s lottery and will get the chance to add yet another building block in their quest to rebuild themselves into the championship-level product fans in Southern California are used to seeing.
“We can now make the decision all by ourselves”, said Brown, who is 47-199 in his three seasons.
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Phoenix will pick fourth, followed by Minnesota, New Orleans and Denver.
