Poll: #1 pick for Ben Simmons

[CelticsElite]

No, reason is fultz and IT are friends off the court both from washington. They know how they play and their chemistry would be very good

[celticsclay]

They are pretty comparable prospects and one has an injury risk and one less year of his rookie deal.

[Greyman]

I said 'no' mainly due to a couple of nagging doubts. First is the injury concern, though he may come back with no lasting impact and stay healthy. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, he seems a fickle guy in some ways who has indicated in the past that Boston is not where he wants to be. I know that was pre draft but I think you build dynasties around solid, give everything for my team players.

I am not sure Simmons is the guy you choose to have next to you in the trenches. When he first made an impact I thought his Australian background and Australian Rules Football experience would make him that sort of player, but I have my doubts now.

He could turn out to be a very rare player though and it is my nagging doubts that are 'fickle'. Call it my 'gut' response.

[Darío SpanishFan]

No, reason is fultz and IT are friends off the court both from washington. They know how they play and their chemistry would be very good

Or maybe they can't co-exist on the court. We don't know at this point.

[obnoxiousmime]

All things like contract/health being equal, Simmons seems to be the more special talent due to his size and court vision. Elite scorers like Fultz are rare as well though, and a lot of Simmons' potential is based on his ability to develop a shot. I think at this point I'd stick with the safer Fultz, unless a psychologist told me Simmons had an amazing work ethic or something.

[Alleyoopster]

Last summer I watched the video special they had on Simmons. His attitude toward attending classes, studying or even participating in on-campus activities really turned me off. It appeared  he feels entitled and really didn't need to do anything in life other than play basketball and listen to music. My feeling is he needs to work on character and mental development.

Having a partner like Jaylen, who relishes mental challenges and is more socially conscious, might be a good influence on him. Then again, maybe he's lost in la la land and will never understand reality.
 
He'd be a great addition to the Celtics. I'm just not sold on his attitude toward life.
 

[Spilling Green Dye]

I voted if it's #2 then Yes. 

One factor is that the draft pick this year will have 1 extra year on the rookie contract, which is valuable in and of itself. 

IMO Fultz has separated himself for future NBA success above Josh Jackson, Ball, and Tatum, so I wouldn't trade him for Simmons due to Simmons' health.  Even if Simmons checks out physically now, he's more likely to be injured again.

[footey]

Simmons struggles offensively. No outside game. I'd rather take my chances with a top 4 pick in this draft.

[Ory]

I voted no because of the year of extra control we would have over this years draft pick mostly.

I also don't really want players that have to unlearn losing ways picked up from being drafted onto losing teams. We seem to be a better first or third stop than a second for players for some reason.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I'd say yes but IMO 76ers will make a large offer to Patty Mills as he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spreads the floor and already has a relationship with Brett Brown.

[Granath]

I said no.

Simply put, most scouts have Fultz' long term potential as being higher than Simmons. Then there's the issue of another year of control. While Simmons may fit a need for next season, I'm all about maximizing the long-term potential of this team (without sacrificing the short term winning culture).

[KGBirdBias]

I'd rather have Porzingis

[tazzmaniac]

I said no.

Simply put, most scouts have Fultz' long term potential as being higher than Simmons. Then there's the issue of another year of control. While Simmons may fit a need for next season, I'm all about maximizing the long-term potential of this team (without sacrificing the short term winning culture).

Where's the evidence that most scouts have Fultz' potential being higher than Simmons?  I haven't seen much discussion comparing them but they have similar concerns.  Defensive effort?  Leadership?  Simmons does have the jump shooting concern but he's more of a unicorn. 

[bdm860]

Last summer I watched the video special they had on Simmons. His attitude toward attending classes, studying or even participating in on-campus activities really turned me off. It appeared  he feels entitled and really didn't need to do anything in life other than play basketball and listen to music. My feeling is he needs to work on character and mental development.

I think it's funny, they marketed that movie like it was going to expose the NCAA, and I think it just made Simmons look bad.  Interesting watch nonetheless.

Here's the trailer

It's been at least several months since I watched it, but here's what I remember.  They showed him signing autographs and taking pictures with his fellow students at LSU, and he complained he doesn't get paid for that.

And while his main point was he's not going to be a doctor, so what's the point of going to class once he hit the bare minimum qualifications to play, they showed the team having to run extra laps because he missed class as punishment.  And something they didn't show or address was that your college and coaches are judged (at least partially) by the student athlete classroom activity and GPA.  So it's not like Simmons just didn't go to class, but he also hurt his teammates and coaches in the process, even if he doesn't care about the school.  He could go sit in the back of the class and put headphones and browse the web or play video games, and it would have helped his teammates and coaches out.  He didn't care about that though.

Plus he acts like school is only about being a doctor or oceanographer and completely pointless to his future life, but there's tons of majors that could help lay a foundation for his future, like marketing, accounting, finance, communications, broadcast journalism, etc.  You might say he's only taking Freshman classes how much can he learn about those things, but I still think he could learn some stuff that would help him throughout and after his career.  Shaq even tells the story (though it was probably during his Sophomore or Junior year) how he was sitting in Marketing class at LSU and realized the importance of his brand/logo, so he went out after class and trademarked his name and logo.

They also showed Rich Paul hiring his sister while he was at LSU, which of course they stated had nothing to do with the fact that she was Ben Simmons sister.  Right.

To me, it didn't look like they exposed the NCAA at all.  It just made Simmons look like a no-personality, whiny complainer who just thinks about himself.

On the positive side, it did seem like he keeps his family close and is aware most just people want be friends with him because he's famous.

He'd be a great addition to the Celtics. I'm just not sold on his attitude toward life.

Ya same way I feel, just took me a lot more words to say it. 

[wdleehi]

I might, but I don't see why the 76ers do it.   They already have one and possible two top picks with other top PG prospects sitting there.  They could draft a new backcourt without making that trade if the Lakers miss out on the top 3 picks.