Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram

The Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram debate may be a matter of fit versus need. But for the Philadelphia Sixers, their decision is much more than that.

Every once in a while, you’ll lose something. That particular thing can be something important, like a document or contact for work, or notes for a project; and in that desperate time of need, you can never find that lost item.

But in a frustrating yet ironic turn of events, that certain “thing” always seem to pop up when you least expect it — often when you don’t need it anymore.

So, in a way, we all know how former Philadelphia 76ers‘ general manager, Sam Hinkie, felt when he learned the organization he had so meticulously prepared to tank, had achieved the one goal it was constructed to achieve for more than three years: luck into the No. 1 overall pick.

“The Process” is finally paying off, but the architect is not there to reap its rewards. What a dampening, sobering story.

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However, with one’s demise comes one’s triumph and for Sixers fans everywhere, winning the NBA lottery is a sorely needed victory during these trying years.

Next season will be Philadephia’s turning point — a year in which the process turns into progress.

Not only will they likely add either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, their highly touted and uber-talented big man Joel Embiid is set to make his NBA debut after suffering two season-ending foot injuries.

Besides that, their other much ballyhooed stretch big, Dario Saric, who spent the better part of the last two seasons flourishing in the Euroleague, is set to finally take his talents to the City of Brotherly Love.

When you combine those two frontcourt studs with their already crowded and somewhat archaic pairing of frontcourt prospects in Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, the jostling of the Sixers’ frontcourt rotation should be an interesting act to track next season.

Who they will keep, if not all, will be determined with time and by experiment. Can a twin-tower look of Embiid and Okafor work in today’s smallball-happy NBA? Can Noel stretch the floor enough to play the 4? How will Saric’s game translate to the association?

Many questions will have to be answered.

Their most immediate, and most important, decision at hand, however, is undoubtedly who the franchise will pick at No. 1. The last time Philadelphia selected first overall, they got their hands on a certain 6-foot guard from Georgetown named Allen Iverson — that didn’t turn out too badly.

The debate boils down to Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram.

Ben Simmons is a celebrated point forward from LSU, who originally hails from Melbourne, Australia.

The 6’10” ambidextrous cyborg has been compared favorably to LeBron James and Magic Johnson by his most optimistic of observers and to the likes of Lamar Odom by more level-headed analysts.

Brandon Ingram, on the other hand, is modern-day long, lean two-way wing. At 6’9″, equipped with a mesmerizing 7’4″ wingspan, the smooth Dukie has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant based his avatar-like limbs, and well-rounded offensive game.

Where Ingram seems to fit more coherently with the way the NBA game is played presently, with his ability to defend multiple positions and score on all three levels of the floor (the 3-point line, the mid-range, and at the rim), Simmons is deemed by most scouts to have higher, limitless ceiling, driven in large by his rare concoction of height, speed, frightening body control, and clairvoyant vision.

The problem? Simmons can’t shoot; no, let me correct myself, he refuses to shoot. That is going to be a major issue in today’s space-happy league.

So, the decision ultimately comes down to two factors: should the Sixers pick the best player available (or the one with the most potential down the line) or go with the best fit?

Coventional wisdom tells us that with a team like Philadelphia — one without the merits of a tried and true franchise building block — you go with the BPA (best player available), which in this case is Simmons.

But with chiseled point forward’s incumbent set of skills, to fully optimize his skill-set and unleash his potential, the team who drafts him would essentially have to strip their roster to their bare bones, and surround him with a battalion of 3-and-D specialists.

However, as mentioned previously, there are just too many variables and questions marks the Sixers need to figure out in their frontcourt — queries that can only be solved with on-court experiment.

The last three seasons would essentially be a wash if the Philadelphia brass didn’t at least try pairing Okafor with Embiid, or Embiid with Noel, or … well, you get the point.

In light of their situation, Ingram would seem to make the most sense since he is the ideal fit. He can come right in and slide into the 3 position.

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Moreover, Simmons’ skill set is somewhat redundant with Saric on the way, so the Sixers can maximize the 6’10” Croatian’s capacity by drafting the lanky North Carolinian.

On the other hand, though, if NBA history has taught us anything, drafting for need this high in the draft never turns out well. No franchise wants to the Sam Bowie to the other team’s Michael Jordan.

So, what should the Sixers do?

In my opinion, the upside gap between Ingram and Simmons is not wide enough to justify drafting the brash Aussie with the top overall pick. Ingram might not be KD, but with his established combination of length and scoring skills, he too possesses superstar potential.

He also won’t turn 19 until September and his most glaring liability, his strength and explosiveness, should improve drastically (as did KD’s) as he enters his 20s.

More hoops habit: Celtics: 5 Potential Draft Options At No. 16

In all likelihood, though, with coach Brett Brown’s ties to with the Australian national team, the Philadelphia 76ers will most likely go with the more socially accepted route and fall head over heels into the era of Ben Simmons.

Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram: More Than Meets The Eye

By Aaron Mah | May 21, 2016

The Ben Simmons vs. Brandon Ingram debate may be a matter of fit versus need. But for the Philadelphia Sixers, their decision is much more than that.

More from Hoops Habit