Ben Simmons NBA Position

[jmen788]

I could have sworn in the past I saw him listed as a SF but lately I have seen him listed as a PF. Is this just because players are shorter in college... in the NBA would he be a 3?

If he will end up as a 4 then if we get the first pick, would we be better off with Ingram or Jaylen Brown based on our team needs?

[TA9]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

[jmen788]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

[Eddie20]

I see him as a playmaking 4. Think Draymond Green or Blake (especially when CP3) isn't in the game.

Yesterday, in an exhibition game he put up  17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and six blocks.

[TA9]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

Personally, I haven't seen Simmons play a full game yet (I can't really judge solely based on highlights ). Furthermore, you shouldn't really worry about him being Australian given that he's going to play in the NCAA (which Exum didn't), hence that we will have a great opportunity to assess and compare the performances of Simmons, Ingram and Jaylen Brown as the college season progresses !

[jmen788]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

Personally, I haven't seen Simmons play a full game yet (I can't really judge solely based on highlights ). Furthermore, you shouldn't really worry about him being Australian given that he's going to play in the NCAA (which Exum didn't), hence that we will have a great opportunity to assess and compare the performances of Simmons, Ingram and Jaylen Brown as the college season progresses !

True! There is just so much riding on this... if we finally get a top 3 pick and keep it and the pick is a bust, we will all cry.....

[Adelaide Celt]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

LOL at that logic. Simmons is a completely different type of player. He has also taken a much different path to Exum, playing at a US high school for 3 years and attending college, the standard pathway. Other than the fact they are good mates and both Australian, they really don't have much in common as basketballers.

[saltlover]

He's what Brad Stevens calls a swing.  On the Celtics he'd play some 3 and some 4, depending on lineups, like Jerebko and Crowder do.

[saltlover]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

LOL at that logic. Simmons is a completely different type of player. He has also taken a much different path to Exum, playing at a US high school for 3 years and attending college, the standard pathway. Other than the fact they are good mates and both Australian, they really don't have much in common as basketballers.

Also, I'm not quite sure how Exum can be considered a bust at this point.  Might wind up being true, but it'd be due to his injury and not his national origin.

[TA9]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

Personally, I haven't seen Simmons play a full game yet (I can't really judge solely based on highlights ). Furthermore, you shouldn't really worry about him being Australian given that he's going to play in the NCAA (which Exum didn't), hence that we will have a great opportunity to assess and compare the performances of Simmons, Ingram and Jaylen Brown as the college season progresses !

True! There is just so much riding on this... if we finally get a top 3 pick and keep it and the pick is a bust, we will all cry.....

Remember that Danny and CBS will both have a chance to observe Simmons, Ingram etc. closely during the pre-draft workouts, so they should get it right !
I also remember that Ainge wanted to pick Durant over Greg Oden back in 2007 (and generally his decision making has been good), which is why I am confident that he will make the right choice when the time comes.

[Adelaide Celt]

He is listed as both a SF and PF (understandably so given that he is 6-10 ). I remember Rondae Hollis Jefferson playing PF at Arizona last season even though he's a SF, so it wouldn't be that peculiar if LSU decided to use Simmons as a PF. However, time will tell if Simmons has the lateral quickness to play SF on the next level !

Thanks for the info! It's just surprising to me because even though he is tall, he is pretty skinny so he strikes me more as an NBA 3. Do you think he's the real deal? For some reason I am really high on Ingram and I worry about how Simmons is from Australia and don't want a bust a la Exum

LOL at that logic. Simmons is a completely different type of player. He has also taken a much different path to Exum, playing at a US high school for 3 years and attending college, the standard pathway. Other than the fact they are good mates and both Australian, they really don't have much in common as basketballers.

Also, I'm not quite sure how Exum can be considered a bust at this point.  Might wind up being true, but it'd be due to his injury and not his national origin.

That's absolutely correct. Was the 5th or 6th youngest player in the league last year. Didn't wanna get into that though as it's been debated enough here already.

Boston journalists are taking notice.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/john-tomase/2015/11/05/meet-ben-simmons-college-freshman-who-could-

[Eddie20]

I see him as a playmaking 4. Think Draymond Green or Blake (especially when CP3) isn't in the game.

Yesterday, in an exhibition game he put up  17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and six blocks.

Lamar Odom also quickly comes to mind. Similar in height and build, both lefties, both good ball handlers, excellent passers, unselfish, not the greatest of foot speed, and so-so perimeter shooting.

[knuckleballer]

Based on my limited knowledge of the guy, it sounds like he could play 1 through 4, but will likely be classified as a 3.  I can't wait until the college season starts to see him and some of the other prospects play.

[Celtics4ever]

We need a guy who score I think.

[Smartacus]

I once heard of a tall ball handler (think it might have been Royce White) described as "not a point guard but a LeBron James small forward ".

That's how I see Simmons, has the size, speed and strength on the wing to create mis matchs from SF's and PF's who don't usually cover the primary ball handler. Kind of like how Tim Leglar talked about how he would be forced to guard Magic Johnson since their PG was only 6'1.

You ejther take the mis match hoping that it evens itself out on the other end, or constantly switch at every change of possession taking you out of your typical defensive sets.