’16 Draft – Ideal Player-Team

 no sorry, Simmons is an awful match for Philly, Dude can’t shoot, and that’s what they need. Saric is coming over anyway, they shouldn’t draft Simmons. 

 no sorry, Simmons is an awful match for Philly, Dude can’t shoot, and that’s what they need. Saric is coming over anyway, they shouldn’t draft Simmons. 

Well considering the OP stated "which player would look best on what team." I don’t think BPA is what he’s looking for, or else this exercise would be pointless, as every team in the top of the draft should be going BPA. But in regards to which players would be drafted to that perfect situation, I would say:

Boston- Ben Simmons- Boston needs a star, a secondary ball-handler, and love players who can play positionless basketball. Simmons would fit right in, and is Brad Stevens wet dream. He would improve everything about the team, and his skill-set woud shine brightest in that type of offense. I think the culture that Boston has been trying to create would be great for Simmons, and Stevens would bring out the best in him. He would be asked to play the same role that Evan Turner is right now for the Celtics, and would be excesively better at it. 

Boston- Jaylen Brown- This would be the absolute best case both player and team. He would go to a winning ball-club, get a chance to start right away at either the 2/3, and would fit in perfectly with a Smart/Avery backcourt. Just imagine that defensive tenacity of having Smart/Bradley/Brown hounding your perimeter players all game. He would also be the scoring 3 that they desperately need, and probably the stretch 4 that Stevens likes to play. I just think this would be the ideal spot for both team and player, and as a Celtic fan Brown in the player I actually want the most in this draft excluding Simmons. 

New Orleans- Ben Simmons- I also think NO would be the best case for him as well, as it would pair him with Anthony Davis, another do it all player who can cover him on D, but would also give him the ability to play his game. This would finally allow the Perlicans the rebuild the way they should have done with Noel/AD, as both Tyreke and Jrue would be gone in a year or so giving Simmons more ball control. I could see Simmons being the 3 that NO has desperately needed for years now, and then later on in life moving over to the 4 when AD finally starts to play center. and AD/Simmons front court could win you a title if he pans out the way I think he will. In the short term he could also play the stretch 4 role with Asik.  

Philly- Jamal Murrey- They need better guard play, and they need shooters. I think they need to take a guard prospect this year, and Jamal would be the best bet. He’s going to be what I think a lot of people wanted Russle to be this year, and with the two bigs in the middle, he’ll be able to run a decent offense while not having to worry too much about defense. 

Philly- Caris Lavert- Obsiously not a top pick in the draft, but I think he is fantastic pick in the lottery, and Philly could really use someone with his size and ability to hit the outside shot. He would start from day one, and would have a lot of sway in the offense. If Cannan/Covington can jack up 6 threes a game, I would love to see what LaVert would do with that kind of reign. 

Los Angeles-Brandon Ingram- The Lakers aren’t winning anything anytime soon, and will most likely be forfeiting their pick next year. They have every position on lock for the future with Clarkson/Russle/Randle/Hibbert and adding a 5 star talent in Ingram to groom would be ideal for both team and player. He won’t be asked to save the franchise, and will be able to play a meager role until his body and mind mature. He would also solidify their core if he ever becomes the scorer/shooter/defender a lot of people think he can be. 

Denver- Brandon Ingram- I think he would excel in a run and gun offense, and with Mudaiy in tow, he wouldn’t be asked to create as much as with some other teams. I also think that surrounding him with guys like Farried and Mudiay is ideal, as they will push the pace, create a lot of mismatches, and get him easy looks at the basket and perimeter where he will just be asked to make his open shots till he comes to his own. If he ever become that defensive monster people project him to be, having the length of Ingram/Mudaiy/Farried/Josef would be hard to score on. 

I have absolutely no idea were Skal would be best at. I think Denver would be a great place to start if they moved on from Farried. I think he would be great in Boston, but would like to see him paired with a player like AD in NO, or Towns in MINN. I think he, like Brown/Ingram, are the players in this draft that would almost fit perfectly on any team that is picking in the lottery, so take that for what it’s worth. 

I also think it’s worth mentioning that Simmons is the best player in this draft, that doesn’t mean the fit on some teams would be ideal FOR HIM (I’m not talking about the team). I think his game would be stunted in PHI because of the spacing, LA because of the ball dominant guards, and DEN because of the spacing. He would be best served playing in a pass happy offense that spreads the floor and shares the ball. 

Well considering the OP stated "which player would look best on what team." I don’t think BPA is what he’s looking for, or else this exercise would be pointless, as every team in the top of the draft should be going BPA. But in regards to which players would be drafted to that perfect situation, I would say:

Boston- Ben Simmons- Boston needs a star, a secondary ball-handler, and love players who can play positionless basketball. Simmons would fit right in, and is Brad Stevens wet dream. He would improve everything about the team, and his skill-set woud shine brightest in that type of offense. I think the culture that Boston has been trying to create would be great for Simmons, and Stevens would bring out the best in him. He would be asked to play the same role that Evan Turner is right now for the Celtics, and would be excesively better at it. 

Boston- Jaylen Brown- This would be the absolute best case both player and team. He would go to a winning ball-club, get a chance to start right away at either the 2/3, and would fit in perfectly with a Smart/Avery backcourt. Just imagine that defensive tenacity of having Smart/Bradley/Brown hounding your perimeter players all game. He would also be the scoring 3 that they desperately need, and probably the stretch 4 that Stevens likes to play. I just think this would be the ideal spot for both team and player, and as a Celtic fan Brown in the player I actually want the most in this draft excluding Simmons. 

New Orleans- Ben Simmons- I also think NO would be the best case for him as well, as it would pair him with Anthony Davis, another do it all player who can cover him on D, but would also give him the ability to play his game. This would finally allow the Perlicans the rebuild the way they should have done with Noel/AD, as both Tyreke and Jrue would be gone in a year or so giving Simmons more ball control. I could see Simmons being the 3 that NO has desperately needed for years now, and then later on in life moving over to the 4 when AD finally starts to play center. and AD/Simmons front court could win you a title if he pans out the way I think he will. In the short term he could also play the stretch 4 role with Asik.  

Philly- Jamal Murrey- They need better guard play, and they need shooters. I think they need to take a guard prospect this year, and Jamal would be the best bet. He’s going to be what I think a lot of people wanted Russle to be this year, and with the two bigs in the middle, he’ll be able to run a decent offense while not having to worry too much about defense. 

Philly- Caris Lavert- Obsiously not a top pick in the draft, but I think he is fantastic pick in the lottery, and Philly could really use someone with his size and ability to hit the outside shot. He would start from day one, and would have a lot of sway in the offense. If Cannan/Covington can jack up 6 threes a game, I would love to see what LaVert would do with that kind of reign. 

Los Angeles-Brandon Ingram- The Lakers aren’t winning anything anytime soon, and will most likely be forfeiting their pick next year. They have every position on lock for the future with Clarkson/Russle/Randle/Hibbert and adding a 5 star talent in Ingram to groom would be ideal for both team and player. He won’t be asked to save the franchise, and will be able to play a meager role until his body and mind mature. He would also solidify their core if he ever becomes the scorer/shooter/defender a lot of people think he can be. 

Denver- Brandon Ingram- I think he would excel in a run and gun offense, and with Mudaiy in tow, he wouldn’t be asked to create as much as with some other teams. I also think that surrounding him with guys like Farried and Mudiay is ideal, as they will push the pace, create a lot of mismatches, and get him easy looks at the basket and perimeter where he will just be asked to make his open shots till he comes to his own. If he ever become that defensive monster people project him to be, having the length of Ingram/Mudaiy/Farried/Josef would be hard to score on. 

I have absolutely no idea were Skal would be best at. I think Denver would be a great place to start if they moved on from Farried. I think he would be great in Boston, but would like to see him paired with a player like AD in NO, or Towns in MINN. I think he, like Brown/Ingram, are the players in this draft that would almost fit perfectly on any team that is picking in the lottery, so take that for what it’s worth. 

I also think it’s worth mentioning that Simmons is the best player in this draft, that doesn’t mean the fit on some teams would be ideal FOR HIM (I’m not talking about the team). I think his game would be stunted in PHI because of the spacing, LA because of the ball dominant guards, and DEN because of the spacing. He would be best served playing in a pass happy offense that spreads the floor and shares the ball. 

 As a Celtics Fan- Before the season I wanted Ingram becuase of his scoring punch and 3pt stroke. Boston plays excellent defense as a team. I think they need an elite talent that can score. After the season started though and I see the college guys go. I now would like to see Jamal Murray. I know the guards are loaded already but I think he would become a scoring PG. I just love his game great size and a great athlete and a knockdown shooter. He is going to be bigtime at the next level. Trade Bradley and a pick to move up from there own pick at 15 or 16 or so. This would make some roster room. Eventually move Smart to SG and he pretty much replaces Bradley. 

Skal would be the ideal fit without having to move any players after Lee contract ends this year. 

 As a Celtics Fan- Before the season I wanted Ingram becuase of his scoring punch and 3pt stroke. Boston plays excellent defense as a team. I think they need an elite talent that can score. After the season started though and I see the college guys go. I now would like to see Jamal Murray. I know the guards are loaded already but I think he would become a scoring PG. I just love his game great size and a great athlete and a knockdown shooter. He is going to be bigtime at the next level. Trade Bradley and a pick to move up from there own pick at 15 or 16 or so. This would make some roster room. Eventually move Smart to SG and he pretty much replaces Bradley. 

Skal would be the ideal fit without having to move any players after Lee contract ends this year. 

 I think skal would be an ideal fit with Lakers. With two dynamic pick and roll ball-handlers he would present a nice option as both a pick and roll and pick and pop threat. Plus his ability to stretch the floor and step away from the basket as well as block shots would mesh well with randle. He also has the tools to develop into an excellent pick and roll defender, which is something the Lakers need desperately.

 I think skal would be an ideal fit with Lakers. With two dynamic pick and roll ball-handlers he would present a nice option as both a pick and roll and pick and pop threat. Plus his ability to stretch the floor and step away from the basket as well as block shots would mesh well with randle. He also has the tools to develop into an excellent pick and roll defender, which is something the Lakers need desperately.