PHILADELPHIA — With tanking behind them, the Philadelphia 76ers have officially kicked off the Ben Simmons Era.
One day after he was chosen with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Simmons and the Sixers’ No. 24 pick, Timothe Luwawu, were introduced at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on Friday afternoon.
Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo sat in between the team’s two top draft picks and proclaimed the day a catalyst of change for a franchise looking to climb from the depths of the NBA.
“This truly is a transformational day for the organization,” Colangelo said. “For the Philadelphia 76ers, for the city of Philadelphia, for the fans and everyone that is going to be effected by this next step and new page in the story of the 76ers.”
Over the past three season the Sixers accumulated a league-worst 199 losses. The franchises was propelled by Sam Hinkie’s tank “process” before his resignation that led to the arrival of Colangelo. But what Hinkie did stockpile a bunch of, besides losses, was assets. Thursday night those assets turned into a 19-year-old Australian point forward many believed to be the best player in the draft.
“When I came in we had a lot of things to do in front of us,” Colangelo said. “A lot of the resources and tools were put in place by my predecessor. I think that the way this is played out was uniquely special. We were in position to draft multiple positions in this draft and add significant talent to the roster in addition to some of the good young pieces that are already in place.”
This guy wins Best Sign. pic.twitter.com/daKrbnGcyX
– Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 24, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Those good young pieces Colangelo talks about are the gluttony of big men the Sixers possess. In three straight drafts from 2013 up to last year the team selected three centers – Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Jahlil Okafor. Adding balance to a roster is key; a team generally cannot roll out five centers on the court at a time and post good results. Colangelo recognizes that and during the draft Thursday night tried to address the roster disparity by trading one of the team’s big men for a top draft pick.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Sixers offered Noel, plus the No. 24 and No. 26 picks, along with small forward Robert Covington to the Boston Celtics for the No. 3 pick — reportedly to select Providence point guard Kris Dunn — but the trade did not materialize. The Celtics chose Cal small forward Jaylen Brown instead.
“We had multiple scenarios where we could’ve moved up but ultimately we decided the price was too high,” Colangelo said of draft night deals. “I’ve said all along that we’re going to take measured steps not a jump to the middle. We’re going to take steps that help us improve as a basketball team and as an organization that help put us in that frame of mind to move forward.”
Simmons, who is listed as a power forward, could add to the Sixers problem of having too much clutter in the front court. But what makes the 6-foot-10 teenager special is his ability to pass and handle the basketball, averaging nearly five assists a game last season at LSU.
The Australian native doesn’t view himself strictly as a front court guy either.
“I’m the type of player who can be put anywhere and contribute,” he said. “As a point forward, you can put in the one through five, offensively and defensively. I know how to get the ball to the bigger guys down low. I’m comfortable in coming to play with this team.”
Colangelo recognizes the specialty of Simmons, referring to him as “truly a player with special and unique talents.”
Colangeo told ESPN on Friday that because Simmons can operate as a point forward, the organization might seek a “non-traditional point guard” or more of a scoring guard.
Whether the Sixers decide to move one of their big men – Colangelo mentioned “if the right piece is available via trade or via free agency, that we feel will put us where we need to go and in the right direction to add to the young mix of players, we’re going to go ahead and do that.” – Simmons knows he is the face of the franchise and will be left to deal with pressure.
For a teenager though, he’s sure to not let any of that get to him as he is left to guide the NBA’s worst franchise back to relevancy.
“It’s a lot of responsibility,” he said. “A lot comes with it, but I’m used to it now, I enjoy it. Sometimes it’s a bit hard but it’s part of the job, the more I do, I don’t want to be anywhere else, I enjoy it.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
