Ben Simmons (and Rich Paul) Want the Lakers to Win the Lottery

[MattyIce]

That's not really a shocker though. I think most young players want to be in a large media market with endless endorsement opportunities and more potential revenue streams.

Honestly I'm not really liking this kid as much. Apart from his lack of fire and effort to take over games in college, he's also focusing on this BS. Give me Ingram please.

so if we land 1 and lakers 2 what can we get from them to swap?

[esel1000]

There's been something about Simmons' mentality/personality that I've been uneasy about. Not necessarily that there is a lack of a fire to win, but maybe that he's more of an "LA-type" than a "Boston-type," if that makes any sense. Or there's almost an ego issue there.

I don't know how much this report affects that perception, but I do see where there is potential worry there. He reminds me a lot of Julius Randle's mentality/personality in wanting LA over Boston. I'm so glad we got Smart over him, who fits the team perfectly.

Literally how I feel word for word... the more time that goes by the more I prefer Ingram should we be in position to draft either

[CelticD]

i cant blame him tbh. im not surprised that his biggest concern so far is money. maybe the desire to win will manifest itself later on in his career, but if i was just starting out, i dont think my main concern is "how do i win my team a championship", when i see rooks like andrew wiggins signing $100m+ deals with addidas or watever.

[jpotter33]

The thing is, he can't really say that it's the best situation for him either. LA's lottery pick just two years ago is a power forward, the exact position that Simmons plays. Add to that a rookie head coach, some other questionable characters in that locker room, and some ball-dominant guards, and that's far from an ideal situation for the top rookie in the draft.

IN FACT, Boston is surrounded by high character players, in need of a starting power forward, has excellent management and ownership, and a top-5 coach in the NBA. Is there a better basketball situation for him than us at the moment? Sure, he won't get as gawdy of stats with us, but from a WINNING perspective we're his best option.

Philly is even a better option for him to maximize his stats, because there's virtually no offense on that team outside of Okafor and possibly Embiid.

So, yeah, other than the lifestyle and marketing opportunities, LA is not a good fit for him, which is troubling that he's dying to go there.

[Adelaide Celt]

[bdm860]

Rich Paul has consistently rubbed me the wrong way.

With all the questions about Simmons character, choosing Rich Paul as an agent could be another reason for concern (really though, what agent comes off well?).  Although it might be a little easier dealing with Paul if the player he's representing is always getting max contracts (which Simmons foreseeable would).

Paul's too high profile, and maybe because of that he seems to always be looking out for his own best interest, not his clients.  Adidas offered $10m and Nike offered $7.5m, well then it would be in the best interest of his client to sign with with adidas, but best interest for Paul is to sign with Nike.  Don't get me wrong, he's being a good agent trying to get more money for his client, but to me everything he does seems like he's looking out for himself first, and his client second.

Maybe it's the Kool-Aid talking (Oh yeah!), but as jpotter33 just said, is LA the best place for Simmons career?  Better than Boston?

In a perfect world, where the C's draft Simmons #1, in the back of my mind I'd be worrying about Paul.  Seems like the kind of guy to try to orchestrate the creation a super team in a high profile market (not Boston).  He wants to influence coaching changes and front office decisions, and Danny's never going to let him have any influence here.  Rich Paul with a superstar client is not a good mix for most franchises.  I'd worry about Simmons (because of Paul)  leaving after his rookie deal or trying to force his way out mid contract.

[slamtheking]

the thing is, in this age of the internet, marketing opportunities abound in every market.  Take Durant and Westbrook for example. OKC couldn't be more in the middle of nowhere and they're doing just fine.

the one advantage LA has is a lot of television programming is right there.  Then again, even Kevin Mchale managed to get TV time on Cheers playing in a 'backwater' town like Boston. 

[PaulP34]

The best response to this would be Celtics winning the lottery picking Ingram #1 overall, leaving Simmons waiting for #2 which would be Philadelphia and Lakers at #3 so he could watch himself get drafted right before the team he wants to go to picks 😂

[saltlover]

I'm actually rooting for the Lakers to lose their pick.  My biggest fear is Lakers get the third pick and Simmons forces himself to there.  If the Lakers have no pick, that's that.

But he's from Australia.  I would expect he'd want LA instead of Boston, due to proximity alone.  He might not even know where Boston or Philly are on a map.  That his agent believes his shoe deal can be 33% more only adds to that.  I second disliking Rich Paul and anyone associated with him, but I suppose his job is to get his client the most money.  He's generally done that.

[max215]

The best response to this would be Celtics winning the lottery picking Ingram #1 overall, leaving Simmons waiting for #2 which would be Philadelphia and Lakers at #3 so he could watch himself get drafted right before the team he wants to go to picks 😂

I think going #2 could be good for Simmons. It would give him a bit of a necessary reality check.

[SparzWizard]

So if we get the #2 pick and Lakers get the #1 pick, should we still go after Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield

[alldaboston]

So if we get the #2 pick and Lakers get the #1 pick, should we still go after Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield

Sorry what?

Of course Ingram.

[jpotter33]

I'm actually rooting for the Lakers to lose their pick.  My biggest fear is Lakers get the third pick and Simmons forces himself to there.  If the Lakers have no pick, that's that.

But he's from Australia.  I would expect he'd want LA instead of Boston, due to proximity alone.  He might not even know where Boston or Philly are on a map.  That his agent believes his shoe deal can be 33% more only adds to that.  I second disliking Rich Paul and anyone associated with him, but I suppose his job is to get his client the most money.  He's generally done that.

I don't think he could "Kobe" himself to LA in today's NBA.

[max215]

So if we get the #2 pick and Lakers get the #1 pick, should we still go after Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield

Sorry what?

Of course Ingram.

Even with the character concerns, Simmons is still COMFORTABLY ahead of Hield on my board.

[Tr1boy]

So if we get the #2 pick and Lakers get the #1 pick, should we still go after Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield

Ingram of course

What would be funny is, If the lakers got #1 and we got #2 and they choose Ingram with their pick

Can you imagine Simmons face after that happens