Los Angeles Lakers: Is Brandon Ingram Or Ben Simmons A Better Fit

With the second overall pick, we debate whether Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram would be a better fit for the Los Angeles Lakers

The Philadelphia 76sers have the No. 1 pick in this month’s NBA Draft. As it is, they can use it to draft another versatile forward in Ben Simmons. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers have the No. 2 pick in the Draft.

With Kobe Bryant probably down in his rocking chair nowadays, the Lakers are now in need of a player who can lead the struggling, fading franchise into next season and beyond. Of course, Simmons would have been the preferred player if you want the best young and talented rookie on your team, someone who can produce decent numbers on a consistent basis.

Simmons

Decent numbers? It shouldn’t be a problem for Simmons in terms of his performance during his playing years with the Louisiana State University Tigers. During the 2015-16 season, Simmons averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds a game. He made 56 percent of his shot attempts – a typical field goal percentage for a power forward.

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Give him some legitimate NBA training and he’ll develop into a dominant power forward. That’s assuming he stays healthy for a long period of time.

The question is: can he actually put the Lakers back into playoff contention, to say the least?

Given his numerous awards and recognitions he received during his pre-NBA playing years, which included being dubbed by Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson as the best all-around player since LeBron James, the Lakers will benefit from drafting Simmons, should the Sixers pass up on him.

Let’s say it again, Magic Johnson dubbed Ben Simmons as the next best all-around player. What was Magic thinking? Ben Simmons may not be a good shooter from downtown, making only 33 percent of his shot attempts from the three-point line in college, but we have to consider his passing abilities.

He averaged four assists last season with the Tigers. And, he also averaged two steals per game, so if the Sixers decided to hit their head hard and pass up on Simmons, this will give the Lakers a complete package.

Ingram

Let’s now talk about Brandon Ingram. He played college ball with the the Duke Blue Devils for the 2015-16 season. During the course of the season, where he played 36 games and started 34 of them, he normed 17 points, six rebounds and tow assists while playing 34 minutes per game.

For a small forward of his height, those are the numbers you are looking from him. With more NBA training and experience, who knows? Ingram might actually help the Los Angeles Lakers revive their long-lost success.

Although Simmons’ 56 percent field goal shooting is better in contrast to Ingram’s 44 percent, the latter has more offense from beyond the three-point line, making 41 percent of his shot attempts from downtown.

If you are the Lakers, who will have incoming Head Coach Luke Walton, who handled the Golden State Warriors for a few months during their winning streak, you’ll be thankful for what Ingram has to offer for your team.

Why? The Warriors under Walton, an assistant, won games by running the offense fluidly and allowed Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to shoot and make three-pointers. Shoot a lot and make a lot.

Allow Brandon Ingram to find his sweet spots on the floor and he will re-pay your faith in him with three-pointers. Splash!

And yes, the Lakers, who are known as a team which heavily relied on shooters will largely benefit if they get Ingram. After all, a rookie who can make 41 percent of his shot attempts from beyond the three-point line is dangerous.

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Who can bring more for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, and beyond? The Lakers lost one of the best ring slashers in the history to retirement. Julius Randle can handle the paint. Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell can tale the guard spots.

Now, possibly add a Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons and a big name free agent, and the Lakers may be on to something.