The 2016 NBA Draft order is now set after last night's lottery, and the Philadelphia 76ers emerged with the No. 1 overall pick with the Los Angeles Lakers drafting second and Boston Celtics picking third. Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are projected to be the top two picks, and there are plenty of teams clamoring to trade for one of the top picks - and a few could be looking to trade out. Check out all the latest NBA Draft news and rumors below:
76ers favor Ben Simmons?
The debate apparently isn't much of a debate for the Sixers. According to Bleacher Report, Philadelphia is "leaning heavily" towards taking Simmons with the top pick:
The 76ers will further investigate Ingram, but they have great confidence in the upside of Simmons, whose ambidextrous athletic ability at 6’10” and 240 pounds comes with innate basketball instincts.
It’s not as if the 76ers need to get to know Simmons to decide if they want him. Simmons was born and raised in Australia, where 76ers director of performance research and development David T. Martin was an iconic sports-science leader until leaving the Australian Institute of Sport for Philadelphia in 2015.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown also coached Simmons’ father, Dave, with the Melbourne Tigers. All of that history with Simmons has allayed any concerns over his attitude and inconsistent motor during his one season at LSU.
Simmons averaged 19.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for LSU last season.
Lakers Looking To Move Pick?
That would like the Lakers with Brandon Ingram, who they would be "thrilled" with, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to keep the pick. Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report reports that the Lakers are actively looking into trading the No. 2 overall pick.
Still, the Lakers will actively explore trading the pick. They want to get better as soon as possible — in part to make sure Philadelphia doesn’t get too good of a pick next year when the Lakers’ first-rounder conveys to the 76ers if it’s outside the top three. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is also seeking a better blend of youth and experience on the roster. But it's an open question if the Lakers can find a star another club is willing to send away.
The Lakers are targeting Indiana's Paul George, Chicago's Jimmy Butler and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins.
Celtics to trade pick to Bulls for Jimmy Butler?
Team president Danny Ainge plans to explore all options with the No. 3 pick, including trading it for a star player. One of Boston's biggest targets is Butler, who Chicago is expected to make available this offseason. However, The Vertical's Chris Mannix said it's going to take more than just that one pick to acquire Butler:
“If Boston does want to get in the mix for one of the premier players that could be available on the trade market, there is going to be a very rich price. It’s going to be that No. 3 overall pick plus a couple of extra players that are going to make it unpalatable for the Celtics to want to swallow that type of deal.”
Expect Boston to also pursue a deal for Cousins as well, but new Sacramento head coach Dave Joerger wants to keep him.
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