NBA Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers Trading With Los Angeles Lakers, Drafting Both Brandon Ingram And Ben Simmons

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NBA rumors are swirling around the Los Angeles Lakers. They won the second overall pick in the draft on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Times believes that the Lakers might be willing to trade their selection away for a star player. The Philadelphia 76ers have someone that Los Angeles needs.

Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons are widely considered to be the two best college players available in the upcoming NBA Draft. Any general manager in the league would love to add just one of them to their roster because they have potential to become franchise players. Those are hard to come by.

The Los Angeles Lakers would love to get either Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons. Either one of them can fill the small forward position that was vacated when Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA. However, what the team could really use is a franchise player at the center position, something they once had with Shaquille O’Neal.

It just so happens that the Philadelphia 76ers have someone on the roster that has shown potential to be a franchise center in the NBA. In his rookie year, Jahlil Okafor averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds a game. Since he’s just 20 years old, those numbers could go up dramatically. Okafor can become pretty dominant.

While it may sound foolish for an NBA franchise to get rid of a potential franchise center, the Philadelphia 76ers can afford to take that gamble. The team has too much young talent at the same position. In addition to Jahlil Okafor, the Sixers also have Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid on the roster.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers can help one another out.

In a move that would shake up the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers can send Jahlil Okafor to the Los Angeles Lakers. In exchange, the Lakers send the second overall pick in the draft. By having the first two choices, the Sixers can then acquire both Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons.

After the NBA Draft Lottery unfolded, various members of the Philadelphia 76ers made it a point to talk about rewarding their fan base for being patient during their rebuilding period. There are very few things that would excite the fans more than bringing in the two best players from college. Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons can revitalize the Sixers.

By doing the trade, the Los Angeles Lakers get a player at a position of need to fill out their potential-filled lineup. Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell start at guard. Julius Randle starts at power forward, while Jahlil Okafor becomes the new franchise center. The Lakers can fill that small forward role with a free agent like DeMar DeRozan or Harrison Barnes.

The Philadelphia 76ers could balance out their roster with the trade. Brandon Ingram can start at shooting guard. Ben Simmons is the small forward. Nerlens Noel provides defense at power forward. Joel Embiid said he is ready to play, so he would replace Jahlil Okafor at center. The Sixers would just need a defender that can shoot at the point guard position.

Blockbuster trades are pretty rare in the NBA. However, it can happen when you have executives looking to make a splash. Mitch Kupchak is trying to keep his job, so acquiring a franchise center could earn him more time to rebuild the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryan Colangelo can instantly win over Philadelphia 76ers fans by acquiring both Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons at the same time, much like what the Chicago Bulls did when they drafted Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers can help each other get out of the NBA cellar.

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