Simmons, Tatum or Mitchell

All three will be great but Simmons is the guy that has the highest ceiling. Yes, Simmons needs to improve his shot but that is his only flaw and that may be very well a correctable flaw. However what separates Ben is the one thing that Tatum and Mitchell don’t have and that is the ability to elevate all of the players around them. Tatum is an excellent scorer as is Mitchell and both will be stars. However, Simmons has the ability to make every player around him better with his other worldly passing ability. Ask any GM in the league and I guarantee you Simmons would be the pick. There are great scorers year in and year out but a Magic Johnson type of talent at that height and skill level comes around every 25 years or so.    

 I’d go 1. Simmons 2. Tatum 3. Mitchell

Can’t go wrong with any of them, but Simmons’ height can help him be an elite passer and playmaker and Tatums height and shooting give him the chance to develop some unblockable mid range jump shots. Michell showed he’s ready to compete and beat anyone, but I gotta put him third.

 I would go Simmons, Mitchell, Tatum.

Simmons is a generational talent and will be even better as he adds range to his jumper with age.  Triple double threat everytime out and a matchup nightmare.

Mitchell is going to be one of the top SG’s in the league for years to come and has great two way skills.

Tatum is going to be a good player and a great scorer in the league, but with Hayward back will likely take a hit.

 The highest ceiling to me is probably Tatum, though what Mitchell showed he’s capable of can’t be ignored. Know I’m in the minority here, but still not sold on Simmons. He obviously has a unique skill set, but his deficiencies shooting anything outside of eight feet are a giant red flag, and an even bigger red flag is that he had a whole year to work on his jumper and clearly didn’t. The NBA is about adjustments, and if he doesn’t adjust his game he will get exploited and have a hard time progressing. Could easily see a sophomore slump if he hasn’t added SOMETHING. 

Also, still feel Dennis Smith Jr will be better than all of ’em.

I think that it is obvious they all have enough talent to anything they want to be.  That said, from here on out it is mental makeup.

Tatum and Mitchell from all accounts are individuals who have the type of character and work ethic that is rare even in the NBA.  You could see it in both of them as they we both consumate team players who everyone loved.  They are, in my opinion, in the Tim Duncan, David Robinson good guy mold. 

Simmons, on the othe hand seems to be a little bit more the mold of someone who is both a bit entitled and living a little too much off incredible talent.  He may be the most talented, but Derick Coleman was arguably more talented than Barkley and Malone.  Talent only gets you so far.  Simmons physically is the second coming of LeBron.  Mentally I think he is not.  The way he coasted in college, didn’t improve his jumpshot, and faded in the playoffs when the going got tough has me a little skeptical that he will reach his potential.  

I expect both Tatum and Michell to but right up against their potential if they are healthy.  That would put them in the HOF. Simmons may still get there on sheer talent.  But he could also have a Derrick Coleman, Steve Francis (low end) or Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter (high end) type career (meaning putting up freak numbers but not putting in the work or having the mentality needed to take a series by the horns and will your team to a ring. ala Wade, LeBron, Jordon, Duncan, Kobe etc. )

I like size so I like Tatum, but I’m a Jazz homer too and know Utah will squeeze everything out of that turnip (see Stockton, John and Malone, Karl).  So I give a biased vote for Mitchel then Tatum in a dead heat with Simmons third ( and Dennis Smith Jr in the same mental place as Simmons–actually may be Steve Francis reincarnated).

This isn’t a difficult decision for me at all. I’d go with Tatum. He looks like the player most likely to develop a complete game with little to no holes. 

His fundamental base is strong. Then you look at what he’s built on top of his fundamental base . . . The young man’s advanced skill-set is already at a near elite level. He’s a hard worker in every way. He’s already treating his body like a veteran. There’s probably not another young player in the league who approaches working on his body, eating, resting, recovering, etc like him. He’s already become a huge film watcher. A major student of the game. 

There’s no doubt he’s going to become one of those players who has no weaknesses in his game. 

Tough question, Tatum is like taller, less athletic, less ego Kobe while Mitchell is smaller, stronger MJ…

 Micthell & Tatum right now are 2 of the Most capable Bucket makers in the Entire NBA – if their team is in trouble you throw Tatum or Mitchell the ball & they are gonna get you a bucket 

between these two it is Very close – I like Tatum’s size at 6’9” & he is a much better shooter but Tatum. Conversely, Mitchell is not as a good a perimeter shooter as Tatum but D Mitch is like a human Bull Dozer – he really reminds me of like a smaller charles barkley in that he just powers his way to the Rim 

But as far as who is the best I have to go w/ Simmons. We are talking about a 1st year Point Guard on a team where the startung 5 Never played together before this year & they were the #1 ranked Starting Unit most of the Season – that is just Remarkable! b/c the PG is the Quarter back of the team 

I honestly believe this is why Simmons did not shoot very often – he had So many responsibitlies as the Point Guard it always felt like he was 100% focused on running the team but if he had a crease he would attack the rim – remember Simmons was Not Missing Shots – he was NOT taking them – his coaches Insiste he Can shoot the J

We just do Not see 1st year / Rookie point guards Dominate the NBA like Simmons did this past season & what is relaly crazy to me is I Always like at Free Throw Attempts per game b/c that tells me if a man get beat his man off the Dribble & get to the Rim – b/c that is an Unteachable Skill

This Blew me away – even though Mitchell & Tatum had a job specifically to Score & Simmons job was to Run the team – Simmons got to the Free Throw line More times per game than Both Tatum & Mitchell – that Stunned me

So we have a 6’10” point guard who is a Freak passer / Vision, who is also a physical Bully at 250 lbs but he’s Not even Trying to score but any time he feels like it he beats his man off the Dribble & gets to the Rim!

In addition Simmons was a Dominant Defensive player & rebounder & of all the PG’s in the NBA on the dribble Simmons & Steph Curry were the Fastest in the Entire NBA – Simmons is faster dribbling the ball in transition than Most guys sprinting w/ no ball 

That’s an Insane package of skills in One player – If Simmons does develop a shot it’s almost Not even fair. But I LUV all 3 players & All 3 will eventually be Perennial All Stars