Ben Simmons (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers could spoil Ben Simmons' plan to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA draft.
The 76ers once again hold the top pick in the 2016 NBA draft, which could mean another top prospect in LSU's Ben Simmons or Duke's Brandon Ingram. While Simmons seems to be the ideal choice and the consensus No. 1 draft pick, the Australian phenom and his agent Rich Paul are reportedly pushing to get drafted by the Lakers to secure a shoe deal with Nike, according to Nick DePaula of The Vertical.
DePaula claimed that Simmons was offered a five-year shoe endorsement from Adidas and Nike, with the former offering $10 million and a fair amount of bonus incentives while the latter only presenting $7.5 million and fewer performance incentives for the LSU product.
"The early strategy from Simmons and his Klutch Sports Group representation was believed to be a desire to sign a shoe deal before the draft lottery, but they aren't satisfied with the Nike offer, sources said," DePaula wrote. "They're hoping that if the Lakers land the top overall pick - which they have a 19.9 percent chance of doing - Nike will move closer to matching adidas' offer."
It is no secret that the Lakers are looking to pick the best available talent in this year's draft class, which could be Simmons, given his versatility to play different positions. However, with the 76ers set to select first in draft night, Philly could spoil any potential move of the Lakers drafting Simmons in June.
However, the 76ers are still unsure about their prospects heading into the rookie draft next month, according to the team's head coach Brett Brown.
"The truthful answer from our side is ... we are still digging in," Brown told ESPN Radio's Russillo and Kanell. "We are still acquiring information.
"The mock drafts obviously favor Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons. We get that. But we very much are still going through the process of trying to learn as much as we can. The responsibility of trying to get this right carries a lot of weight."
Basketball Insiders' post-lottery mock draft has the 76ers, as well as the Lakers, picking either Simmons or Ingram as the top selections, who are essentially the only options Philly could choose from in this year's draft class.
There is certainly the need to for the 76ers to draft a talent like Simmons and Ingram, with the team lacking a legit talent at the wing and four spots. It remains to be seen whether Simmons fit the mold as Philadelphia's next first overall selection, but the 76ers have the luxury and leverage to dictate the outcome of the 2016 NBA draft.
