NBA Rumors: Post-2016 Lottery Draft Buzz on Ben Simmons, Celtics and More

The 2016 NBA draft lottery happened Tuesday night, and no teams moved up or down from their expected slot.

While that means most teams can continue with their scouting as usual, there will still be plenty of storylines that surface heading into next month’s draft. Plenty of information will reveal itself in the coming weeks regarding teams that have certain preferences for specific players or positions.

Let’s check in on Ben Simmons’ situation, the Boston Celtics’ draft plans and one lottery team’s pursuit of a new head coach.

Ben Simmons Hoping to Join the Lakers?

Simmons had an interesting change of mind Monday. After originally deciding to select his shoe deal before the draft lottery, he chose to wait until after the event, per The Vertical’s Nick DePaula.

Regarding the decision, DePaula said the “thinking from Simmons’ camp is straightforward and simple: It’s the Los Angeles Lakers or bust.”

While Simmons’ locale could affect the shoe deals Nike or Adidas might offer him, and being in Los Angeles wouldn’t hurt those deals, there’s a bigger issue here: Does he have a strong preference for where he wants to begin his career between Philadelphia and Los Angeles? The 76ers and Lakers got the first and second picks Tuesday night, respectively, and one of them will likely have Simmons by the end of draft night.

Silver Screen and Roll’s Harrison Faigen noted several occasions throughout the past season where Simmons showed an affinity for the Lakers. Is this a sign of things to come for his career?

Strictly for on-court purposes, Simmons seems like the best fit for Philadelphia at No. 1. The Sixers badly need playmaking, and the 19-year-old Australian can be a de facto point guard with his passing and ball-handling skills. Brandon Ingram, the other player considered worthy of the top pick, is more of a shooter and basket-maker than a guy who makes his teammates better.

It seems like Philly would be foolish to take a player who doesn’t want to …

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