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For months now, Ben Simmons has been in line to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. In terms of raw numbers, he did nothing to dismiss that during his lone season at LSU, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. But there’s a case for him not to hear his name called first in June’s draft, and here are five reasons why Simmons should not be this year’s No. 1 pick.
5. Questions About Upside
Getty ImagesIt's quite possible his freshman season at LSU is as good as it gets for Simmons, with the burden of expectations entering the NBA. Duke's Brandon Ingram, on the other hand, still carries the perception of upside as he fills out physically.
4. Free Throw Shooting
Getty ImagesThe talk about the 2015 No. 1 pick tilted toward Karl-Anthony Towns based on his being a good free throw shooter. Neither Simmons nor Ingram were particularly good from the foul line last year, but Simmons had nearly double the attempts.
3. Assertiveness
Getty ImagesLSU's disappointing season, and his disappearance at times offensively, brought questions about Simmons' overall assertiveness. Coaching can be blamed, but star players have to raise their own level while demanding more from their teammates.
2. Lack of Willingness To Compete
Getty ImagesLSU could have played in the NIT this year, and it's not a reach to suggest Simmons had a role in the decision not to. Avoiding injury is fine, but Simmons also skipped the draft combine, so his decisions not to compete have to be a red flag.
1. Perimeter Shooting
Getty ImagesToday's NBA requires forwards to be a perimeter threat, and Simmons went just 1-for-3 from beyond the arc last season. By comparison, Ingram not only attempted a lot more threes (195), but he also made 41 percent of his attempts.
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