The right to select LSU's Ben Simmons is at stake at the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery. (Photo : Getty Images/Mike Stobe)
The Boston Celtics are reportedly setting their sights on Louisiana State University freshman forward Ben Simmons, who is considered by many as the consensus No. 1 prospect for next year's rookie draft. Many NBA teams are already drooling to nab the 6-foot-10 point forward, but rumor has it that the Celtics are the favorite to land Simmons as both parties are in mutual agreement.
Simmons has gotten the attention of the NBA teams after showing his superstar potential when LSU coach Johnny Jones opened the team's practices to team scouts in October.
But the real chance Simmons had to stuff every team's scouting reports was when he played in front of them at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where he scored 21 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in LSU Tigers' loss to Marquette.
General Managers and executives from 28 NBA teams were present watching Simmons' brilliant display, and one of them were Celtics GM Danny Ainge and assistant GM Mike Zarren, according to ESPN's Mike Mazzeo.
The Celtics have a real chance of getting their hands at LSU's Australian basketball sensation with the four unprotected 2016 overall draft pick they acquire from the Brooklyn Nets when they traded veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
With the way Brooklyn (3-11) is slumping into the pit of the league standings, it is likely the Celtics could land Simmons come draft night in June next year.
Interestingly, Simmons seems also interested to play for Boston when he begins his NBA career in 2016. Before LSU's game against Marquette earlier this week, Simmons posted a photo on Twitter of a "create-player" in 2K16 with his favorite team Boston listed on the profile.
According to Fox Sports, Simmons is the exact type of player the Celtics are waiting to build around. In his recent outings, he is averaging nearly 20 points and 16 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.7 percent from the field.
If the Celtics could get Simmons, the franchise will have a multi-dimensional superstar that could fit well with the team's core of young talents.
There is still plenty of time before teams try to scout their rookie prospects. But with the way Simmons is dominating the game, he is almost certain to be a sure lock at the top-three rookie prospects.
The only question now is, are the Nets going to be the Celtics leverage to acquire Simmons? The basketball world will surely find out as the season goes on.
