Best Fit for Simmons

 Ben Simmons seems to be good enough to me that none of Boston’s front court players would edge him out for playing time.

 Ben Simmons seems to be good enough to me that none of Boston’s front court players would edge him out for playing time.

 I think it’s Boston but I’m not expecting us to land Simmons.  Despite our deep frontcourt right now as many as six of them may not be with the team next year.  David Lee and Turner are unrestricted free agrents.  Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko have non-guarenteed contracts.  Jared Sullinger and Zeller are restricted free agents.  I expected Amir and Jerebko to be on the team next year unless a trade comes up that can use their combined 17million in non-guarenteed contracts.  Sullinger has played well so he’s probably re-signed and Zeller is a solid bench big for the right price. With Lee I’m expecting Ainge either flips him during the season or lets him walk in the offseason.  

However, it’s Turner who Simmons would be replacing if Boston lucks out with the #1 pick.  Turner plays a ton of point forward for Brad Stevens especially when on the floor with Marcus Smart.  Stevens loves players with versatility and that’s exactly what Simmons especially if he can improve his shot.  He is able to play SF and PF while being able to run the offense from those positions.  You can surround him with shooting in a lineup like IT/Bradley/Simmons/Jerebko/Olynyk.  

 I think it’s Boston but I’m not expecting us to land Simmons.  Despite our deep frontcourt right now as many as six of them may not be with the team next year.  David Lee and Turner are unrestricted free agrents.  Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko have non-guarenteed contracts.  Jared Sullinger and Zeller are restricted free agents.  I expected Amir and Jerebko to be on the team next year unless a trade comes up that can use their combined 17million in non-guarenteed contracts.  Sullinger has played well so he’s probably re-signed and Zeller is a solid bench big for the right price. With Lee I’m expecting Ainge either flips him during the season or lets him walk in the offseason.  

However, it’s Turner who Simmons would be replacing if Boston lucks out with the #1 pick.  Turner plays a ton of point forward for Brad Stevens especially when on the floor with Marcus Smart.  Stevens loves players with versatility and that’s exactly what Simmons especially if he can improve his shot.  He is able to play SF and PF while being able to run the offense from those positions.  You can surround him with shooting in a lineup like IT/Bradley/Simmons/Jerebko/Olynyk.  

 LA Lakers its almost too perfect, Kobe retires and the new glory boy comes in to rebuild LA…  Somewhere David Stern has a hard on just thinking about it

 LA Lakers its almost too perfect, Kobe retires and the new glory boy comes in to rebuild LA…  Somewhere David Stern has a hard on just thinking about it

 Boston, via Nets pick, is a very good spot.  With Hunter, Olynyk, Bradley, they have some shooting to be on the floor to help him.  Sullinger, Olynyk, Amir Johnson, if they play center it will open the lane for Simmons to drive.  He doesn’t have that with 76ers.  Lakers and Pelicans would be good fits for Simmons, and he could improve the 76ers but with all their centers and him and Saric it is a big team with little shooting.

He probably thinks the best fit is at New Orleans, and he does attend games there and can see an opening at small forward for him.

 Boston, via Nets pick, is a very good spot.  With Hunter, Olynyk, Bradley, they have some shooting to be on the floor to help him.  Sullinger, Olynyk, Amir Johnson, if they play center it will open the lane for Simmons to drive.  He doesn’t have that with 76ers.  Lakers and Pelicans would be good fits for Simmons, and he could improve the 76ers but with all their centers and him and Saric it is a big team with little shooting.

He probably thinks the best fit is at New Orleans, and he does attend games there and can see an opening at small forward for him.

 Pairing Simmons with Davis in new Orleans could be downright scary if they get the right supporting pieces around them. It would hinge on davis’ willingness to shift to center though, which I think could work. 

Boston would be an excellent fit too. They have the pieces already and probably just need that one guy to take them over the top, which could be Simmons.

The young cores of LA and philly would not mesh very well with Simmons imo. Both those teams would probably have to move some players to make it work.

 Pairing Simmons with Davis in new Orleans could be downright scary if they get the right supporting pieces around them. It would hinge on davis’ willingness to shift to center though, which I think could work. 

Boston would be an excellent fit too. They have the pieces already and probably just need that one guy to take them over the top, which could be Simmons.

The young cores of LA and philly would not mesh very well with Simmons imo. Both those teams would probably have to move some players to make it work.

 The best situation for him bar none would be the Pelicans. Let’s face it if you put the Brow with Simmons you have a new force immediately. The current roster may not compliment them yet with some experience and tweaks within the lineup they would be a threat.

 The best situation for him bar none would be the Pelicans. Let’s face it if you put the Brow with Simmons you have a new force immediately. The current roster may not compliment them yet with some experience and tweaks within the lineup they would be a threat.

 I would live to see him in Utah with there new position less approach.

 I would live to see him in Utah with there new position less approach.

 I agree that Boston seems like the best fit for Ben Simmons so I am going to name my worst fit for him – the Denver Nuggets. Emmanuel Mudiay looks like the franchise building block/centre piece for the Nuggets and I think that Mudiay and Simmons would struggle to play next to eachother. Together they limit the teams spacing which is an issue because it allows the defense to pull back and limit Mudiay and Simmons lanes to drive/pass into the post. Also both of them are very ball dominant when it comes to scoring and making an impact and I believe that two ball dominant players on the court at the same time of this calibre is not going to work at all.

Simmons is still the BPA under any circumstance at the moment.

 I agree that Boston seems like the best fit for Ben Simmons so I am going to name my worst fit for him – the Denver Nuggets. Emmanuel Mudiay looks like the franchise building block/centre piece for the Nuggets and I think that Mudiay and Simmons would struggle to play next to eachother. Together they limit the teams spacing which is an issue because it allows the defense to pull back and limit Mudiay and Simmons lanes to drive/pass into the post. Also both of them are very ball dominant when it comes to scoring and making an impact and I believe that two ball dominant players on the court at the same time of this calibre is not going to work at all.

Simmons is still the BPA under any circumstance at the moment.

 Simmons and Anthony Davis would straight-up murder the league. 

Free Agents and Ring Chasing vets would flock to New Orleans to play with those 2 guys.

 Simmons and Anthony Davis would straight-up murder the league. 

Free Agents and Ring Chasing vets would flock to New Orleans to play with those 2 guys.

 Going by team:

Pelicans: Davis and Simmons would be nothing short of spectacular for the league, fans and future team success

76ers: I understand they have Okafor who has been living up to his selection but I’m more interested in paring Simmons with Embiid who before the injury at Kansas was running up/down the floor like a guard. Those two running at any defense would be terrifying. (Hopefully Embiid is healthy next season)

Lakers: I’m a huge fan of Randle and would like to see him with Ben but then you have Russell and Clarkson. I just can’t see the immediate meshing of the team, they are all reliant on having the ball in  they’re hands to be successful. I can see them getting rid of Clarkson leaving the new "Lefty Lakers" lol.

Celtics: What can’t Brad Stevens do? He’s shown the ability to have a team work with throwaways and build a very competitive environment. Adding "Great" talent to the pot will only turn out positive results.

 Going by team:

Pelicans: Davis and Simmons would be nothing short of spectacular for the league, fans and future team success

76ers: I understand they have Okafor who has been living up to his selection but I’m more interested in paring Simmons with Embiid who before the injury at Kansas was running up/down the floor like a guard. Those two running at any defense would be terrifying. (Hopefully Embiid is healthy next season)

Lakers: I’m a huge fan of Randle and would like to see him with Ben but then you have Russell and Clarkson. I just can’t see the immediate meshing of the team, they are all reliant on having the ball in  they’re hands to be successful. I can see them getting rid of Clarkson leaving the new "Lefty Lakers" lol.

Celtics: What can’t Brad Stevens do? He’s shown the ability to have a team work with throwaways and build a very competitive environment. Adding "Great" talent to the pot will only turn out positive results.

 Simmons to LA… LA is the most hyped up franchise trying to get another Star in the L.A market. If Ben goes to LA. great but if not laker fans it’s not the end of the world LA. Its still a great free agent destination although the last couple years you wouldn’t think so. They have a couple good young players in Russell, Clarkson and Randle but there strengths overlap. Adding a player like Ben to the mix will draw attention from these guys and open up there scoring oppurtunities. We all know Ben can handle but his ability to space the floor will determine how much time he and Randle can share on the floor or how much of a trade asset Randle is…

Simmons to Boston… The Celtics roster is the best fit overall for Ben Simmons. Sullinger and Olynck. Olynck provides floor spacing with his shooting and Sully cleans up the glass on the weakside. Defensively the Celtics have one of the most disruptive backcourts in the nba. Bradley, Smart and Crowder are 3 of the best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team collectively keeping guards from getting to the paint or shooting uncontested. Evan Turner is the odd man out which is perfect because Ben is the Super talented forward Brad Stevens likes to builds his teams around. Brad Stevens + Ben Simmons = Something good in Boston  

Simmons to pelicans…Pelicans fortunately enough have the best player out of the bunch in Anthony Davis so it will make Simmons transition much smoother to the nba playing with a talent like Davis. Having a player to dish to and finish like AD will maximize Ben’s gift for passing and adding a couple of shooters to the mix will accelerate the rebuild. Ben and Ad will give up size on the frontline, but they will make up for size with speed and athleticism. The next step is finding out who will run the team is it the often injured Holiday or is it Tyreeke? Either way, adding pieces to a team with 2 talented forwards like Ben and AD will quickly make them into playoff team in just about any situation.

 Simmons to LA… LA is the most hyped up franchise trying to get another Star in the L.A market. If Ben goes to LA. great but if not laker fans it’s not the end of the world LA. Its still a great free agent destination although the last couple years you wouldn’t think so. They have a couple good young players in Russell, Clarkson and Randle but there strengths overlap. Adding a player like Ben to the mix will draw attention from these guys and open up there scoring oppurtunities. We all know Ben can handle but his ability to space the floor will determine how much time he and Randle can share on the floor or how much of a trade asset Randle is…

Simmons to Boston… The Celtics roster is the best fit overall for Ben Simmons. Sullinger and Olynck. Olynck provides floor spacing with his shooting and Sully cleans up the glass on the weakside. Defensively the Celtics have one of the most disruptive backcourts in the nba. Bradley, Smart and Crowder are 3 of the best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team collectively keeping guards from getting to the paint or shooting uncontested. Evan Turner is the odd man out which is perfect because Ben is the Super talented forward Brad Stevens likes to builds his teams around. Brad Stevens + Ben Simmons = Something good in Boston  

Simmons to pelicans…Pelicans fortunately enough have the best player out of the bunch in Anthony Davis so it will make Simmons transition much smoother to the nba playing with a talent like Davis. Having a player to dish to and finish like AD will maximize Ben’s gift for passing and adding a couple of shooters to the mix will accelerate the rebuild. Ben and Ad will give up size on the frontline, but they will make up for size with speed and athleticism. The next step is finding out who will run the team is it the often injured Holiday or is it Tyreeke? Either way, adding pieces to a team with 2 talented forwards like Ben and AD will quickly make them into playoff team in just about any situation.

 The Celtics are a promising team with a great young coach, a really good Moneyball-esque front office, then a solid, good, young team, with guys who can fit into a core, but no true centerpiece.

If you had to take the total package into account: FO, Coach, History, Tradition, Current Winning, Mix of Current Players, and Solid Market Size and a Sleeper Free Agent Destination then the C’s are a GREAT fit.

I would ASSUME the Big 3 then would be Ben Simmons as a playmaking forward, Marcus Smart as the big, playmaking guard (although not a pure point guard), and Kelly Olynyk the prototype stretch 5.

They have another pick, too, right?  With that pick I would go after Buddy Hield.  A shooting guard who can really score and shoot it.  He could form a nice guard rotation with Smart, Isiaiah Thomas, and Avery Bradley.  A guy who Ben Simmons could dish out to at the 3 point line.

Then, I think they should throw a lot of money at Festus Ezeli.  I like that guy.  Bigger center who is a pretty good athlete and a shot blocker.  He can also help out KO and Simmons on the boards.

If they sign Ezeli AND resign David Lee, then that would give them a bit of Golden State Warriors flavor.

They could ALSO be in the running for Harrison Barnes.  If the Warriors don’t want to pay him MAX money, then why shouldn’t a reloaded Celtics team make a BIG offer?

Smart, Hield, Harrison Barnes, Ben Simmons, and Festus Ezeli would be a tough, tough starting lineup then you have IT, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, and KO off the bench.  I would sign a 6’6/6’7 backup shooter type for the MLE, and they would pretty much be set.

I am guessing the Knicks don’t have a pick.  Is it totally unprotected?  I would think that Ben Simmons and KP would be THE combo.  That would be a nightmare for other teams to face…  

Other than that: The T Wolves would be really, really nice.  Lots of options in Towns, Wiggins, and then LaVine.  They have a point guard in Ricky Rubio, but they have a hole at the 3 spot.  BS would give them another playmaker, and an extra rebounder.  They can also play smaller with KAT at the 5, BS at the 4, Wiggins at the 3, and even a Rubio/LaVine backcourt.  

I would have the Lakers next.  But, LA is a tough market to play in, fan expectations are WAY too high, and Lakers fans are really SPOILED.  Their FO is bad, too, and their coach needs to go.  Or something.  They do have a promising young backcourt with Russell and Clarkson, and a nice power forward in Julius Randle, but even with BS it would still take time.  They would also need a younger, top shelf center.

 The Celtics are a promising team with a great young coach, a really good Moneyball-esque front office, then a solid, good, young team, with guys who can fit into a core, but no true centerpiece.

If you had to take the total package into account: FO, Coach, History, Tradition, Current Winning, Mix of Current Players, and Solid Market Size and a Sleeper Free Agent Destination then the C’s are a GREAT fit.

I would ASSUME the Big 3 then would be Ben Simmons as a playmaking forward, Marcus Smart as the big, playmaking guard (although not a pure point guard), and Kelly Olynyk the prototype stretch 5.

They have another pick, too, right?  With that pick I would go after Buddy Hield.  A shooting guard who can really score and shoot it.  He could form a nice guard rotation with Smart, Isiaiah Thomas, and Avery Bradley.  A guy who Ben Simmons could dish out to at the 3 point line.

Then, I think they should throw a lot of money at Festus Ezeli.  I like that guy.  Bigger center who is a pretty good athlete and a shot blocker.  He can also help out KO and Simmons on the boards.

If they sign Ezeli AND resign David Lee, then that would give them a bit of Golden State Warriors flavor.

They could ALSO be in the running for Harrison Barnes.  If the Warriors don’t want to pay him MAX money, then why shouldn’t a reloaded Celtics team make a BIG offer?

Smart, Hield, Harrison Barnes, Ben Simmons, and Festus Ezeli would be a tough, tough starting lineup then you have IT, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, and KO off the bench.  I would sign a 6’6/6’7 backup shooter type for the MLE, and they would pretty much be set.

I am guessing the Knicks don’t have a pick.  Is it totally unprotected?  I would think that Ben Simmons and KP would be THE combo.  That would be a nightmare for other teams to face…  

Other than that: The T Wolves would be really, really nice.  Lots of options in Towns, Wiggins, and then LaVine.  They have a point guard in Ricky Rubio, but they have a hole at the 3 spot.  BS would give them another playmaker, and an extra rebounder.  They can also play smaller with KAT at the 5, BS at the 4, Wiggins at the 3, and even a Rubio/LaVine backcourt.  

I would have the Lakers next.  But, LA is a tough market to play in, fan expectations are WAY too high, and Lakers fans are really SPOILED.  Their FO is bad, too, and their coach needs to go.  Or something.  They do have a promising young backcourt with Russell and Clarkson, and a nice power forward in Julius Randle, but even with BS it would still take time.  They would also need a younger, top shelf center.

 Best for the LEAGUE: Ben Simmons goes to Boston.  Reignites Celtic Pride.  He also can establish a rivalry with Kristaps Porizngas who is THE GUY in New York.  Oh, and some matchups with a guy named LeBron James in Cleveland.  Ben Simmons vs. Giannis/Jabari Parker and the Bucks.

Then the Lakers get the 2nd or 3rd pick and take Skal or whoever else is the top guy on the board.  Then they go after the BIG free agents, get Kevin Durant (and some other guys), then upgrade their coaching position.  Maybe they get John Calipari to make another run at the NBA.

Then the Sixers round out the top 3 and get a dynamic wing player to go with their Four Horsemen of Okafor, Noel, Embiid, and Saric when/if he comes over.

If I were running the NBA, this would be my top 3.  Ben Simmons to the Celtics.  The Lakers get a TOP pick AND some mega free agents, really shaking up the league.

Philly gets a good pick, too.  

ANOTHER thing I would do is to make it more likely that the Sixers get the 1st pick in 2017.  

2 of the top 3 (including Ben Simmons) going to the East would help shift the balance of power even more to the East.  The West would still have the Golden State Dream Team, umm, I mean, the Warriors, and also the second best team in the league in the Spurs, but the East is closing the gap.  Then you split up the Westbrook-Durant Small Market Mega Super Star Combo and revive the Lakers franchise.

In 2017, you reward a (hopefully) improving Sixers team, a T Wolves team if they are still not in the playoffs, then probably a flyover country small market team who can’t attact a free agent.  So, maybe the Bucks or Grizzlies if they don’t make the playoffs next year.  

 Best for the LEAGUE: Ben Simmons goes to Boston.  Reignites Celtic Pride.  He also can establish a rivalry with Kristaps Porizngas who is THE GUY in New York.  Oh, and some matchups with a guy named LeBron James in Cleveland.  Ben Simmons vs. Giannis/Jabari Parker and the Bucks.

Then the Lakers get the 2nd or 3rd pick and take Skal or whoever else is the top guy on the board.  Then they go after the BIG free agents, get Kevin Durant (and some other guys), then upgrade their coaching position.  Maybe they get John Calipari to make another run at the NBA.

Then the Sixers round out the top 3 and get a dynamic wing player to go with their Four Horsemen of Okafor, Noel, Embiid, and Saric when/if he comes over.

If I were running the NBA, this would be my top 3.  Ben Simmons to the Celtics.  The Lakers get a TOP pick AND some mega free agents, really shaking up the league.

Philly gets a good pick, too.  

ANOTHER thing I would do is to make it more likely that the Sixers get the 1st pick in 2017.  

2 of the top 3 (including Ben Simmons) going to the East would help shift the balance of power even more to the East.  The West would still have the Golden State Dream Team, umm, I mean, the Warriors, and also the second best team in the league in the Spurs, but the East is closing the gap.  Then you split up the Westbrook-Durant Small Market Mega Super Star Combo and revive the Lakers franchise.

In 2017, you reward a (hopefully) improving Sixers team, a T Wolves team if they are still not in the playoffs, then probably a flyover country small market team who can’t attact a free agent.  So, maybe the Bucks or Grizzlies if they don’t make the playoffs next year.  

 Portland would be an absolute TERROR with Ben Simmons.

They already have two guards who can BALL — shooting, scoring, whatever.

Then they have a pretty good young center in Mason Plumlee.  

Myers Leonard is another big, and a guy who can step out and hit the 3.

So, you put Ben Simmons at the 3 to give the Blazers another creator on offense and another rebounder on defense.

You can also play a ton of shooters with a small ball lineup of Myers Leonard at the 5, Ben at the 4, Lillard and McCollum in the backcourt, and Gerald Henderson at the 3 (can he hit 3’s?).

Portland is a good, small market sports town with tradition that LOVES the Blazers.

Looks like they also have some decent role players in Aminu, Ed Davis, Noah Vonleh, and a guy who I think should be ok in Pat Connaughton.  

If there is any team out there with some nice young pieces, an actual go-to guy already on the roster, with some solid bigs, in need of another "guy" to build around and take some of the creating burden from Lillard then it is the Blazers.  

 Portland would be an absolute TERROR with Ben Simmons.

They already have two guards who can BALL — shooting, scoring, whatever.

Then they have a pretty good young center in Mason Plumlee.  

Myers Leonard is another big, and a guy who can step out and hit the 3.

So, you put Ben Simmons at the 3 to give the Blazers another creator on offense and another rebounder on defense.

You can also play a ton of shooters with a small ball lineup of Myers Leonard at the 5, Ben at the 4, Lillard and McCollum in the backcourt, and Gerald Henderson at the 3 (can he hit 3’s?).

Portland is a good, small market sports town with tradition that LOVES the Blazers.

Looks like they also have some decent role players in Aminu, Ed Davis, Noah Vonleh, and a guy who I think should be ok in Pat Connaughton.  

If there is any team out there with some nice young pieces, an actual go-to guy already on the roster, with some solid bigs, in need of another "guy" to build around and take some of the creating burden from Lillard then it is the Blazers.  

A front court featuring Simmons, Saric, Okafor, Noel & Embiid? The paint would be so packed they’d all suffocate. Anywhere but Philly. 

A front court featuring Simmons, Saric, Okafor, Noel & Embiid? The paint would be so packed they’d all suffocate. Anywhere but Philly.