Los Angeles Lakers fans breathed a huge sigh of relief Tuesday night as the 2016 NBA Draft lottery landed in their favor.
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Exactly who that player is remains unknown, and there’s still a chance that the team could add veteran talent without having to deal away the number 2 overall pick by simply going the free agent route.
I’m still intrigued by the possibility of the Sixers ending up with the first pick and sending a large haul in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for the second pick.
What the Sixers do with the pick remains to be seen. And then there’s Duke sensation Brandon Ingram who catapultedhis way to the top of the draft board with his sensational play, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
And so did the Sixers social media team. Simmons is a year older than Ingram and has been closely watched for years. His abilities to score, pass and rebound are well-documented. There is more unknown about Ingram, whose age, offense and potential is source of intrigue.
“This is a new dawn”, Colangelo said.
The Nets didn’t have a representative at the lottery on Tuesday night as the result of the aforementioned 2013 trade with the Celtics, but instead had to watch their would-be third pick fall into the hands of another team. Chicago Bulls (14h) won the last lottery selection.
Philadelphia has a string of young players in their roster. Thoughts of the playoffs quickly became distant memories. But the Lakers (19.9 percent) and Celtics (15.6 percent) weren’t far behind. With a young core that includes the likes of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell, and with the upcoming number 2 pick, it seems that the Lakers are certainly on a path to fill their ranks with the top young talent in the country.
Add the fact that he will be running the point on offense, it shouldn’t affect Jahlil Okafor or Joel Embiid in a basketball sense.
Embiid has yet to make his debut due to foot surgeries, while Okafor is coming off a solid rookie season. It would not be advisable to use it on Dunn as the franchise is also high on Ben Simmons. “Wouldn’t be surprised if a team took a flyer on him late lottery”.
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The Sixers have gone a combined 81-247 over the last four seasons, including a 10-72 record this season, the second-worst win-loss mark in National Basketball Association history. So, what will they do with the top pick? There’s also been speculation that Simmons’ preference is to play for the Lakers.
