With Simmons, the Sixers Draft, Comes Hope

There was no drama to the 2016 NBA Draft, particularly at the top. The Sixers were going to pick Ben Simmons, everyone knew it, and they did. In Simmons, the Sixers get the top ceiling in the draft. They get their small forward for the next decade, a player who absolutely can change the franchise's fortunes. Now, it's a waiting game to see how he does, but we know he's our's moving forward.

That was where all the drama started last night, and amazingly, where it ended. In a shocking turn of events, the Sixers only chose at the spots they had- #1, 24, and 26. There was no trade, no roster shake up, nothing for the 10-72 team from this past season. Amazingly, i'm fine with that.

The Sixers picks at #24 and 26 both seem like steals to me. In Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot, they get an athletic Frenchman who will run the floor with Simmons and create transition points. In Furkan Korkmaz, they get one of the best two or three shooters in the draft, something they desperately need. Korkmaz was an teammate of Dario Saric, who is hopefully coming over as well this season.

The Sixers will add Simmons and 2014 #3 pick Joel Embiid this year, and will hopefully add fellow 2014 lottery pick Dario Saric as well, giving them absurd depth in a front-court that already had 2015 #3 pick Jahlil Okafor and 2013 lottery pick Nerlens Noel. They talent is gushing from the front-court. I'm actually glad they did not trade Okafor for another pick yesterday, as I envision the best front-court in basketball in a couple of years including Simmons, Okafor, and Embiid, with some combination of the other talent coming off of the bench. Things could get exciting really quick for Sixers fans.