Who do you take first in 2020? Lamar Odom or Ben Simmons?

[Kblaze8855]

Obvious advantages both ways. Ben is an elite multi position defender in a time of switching everything. Lamar was at least willing to shoot and no doubt does more of it now. Passing similar I’d say. Lamar may have had the best natural handles for a big ive ever seen. He never looked like a big man who could dribble. He looked like a guard who grew too tall.

Ben is gonna end up a many time all star and all D player and Lamar was never that even though he was roughly all star level. Ben is more significant in his time and likely considered the better prospect. He went #1 in what ended up being a solid draft. Lamar fourth in what we thought was weak but ended up being good. 8 of the top 10 guys in the 99 draft were all stars or at least somebodies.

In the same draft I’m not positive who goes first if teams knew Ben would simply refuse to shoot even though he obviously can(in practice at least).

Being the perfect switch everything defender plus a great playmaker and a freight train in the open court vs a 5 position guy with some similar tools who is willing and able to shoot?

Its at least close isn’t it as far as who a team would take?



https://youtu.be/POBpI5qpb_s


Take that young Lamar and let him loose with these rules, spacing, and shooters I’m not sure he isn’t getting 180 million himself. He’s a comfortable 18/9/8 just off the extra possessions I’d say.

Do it all point center or maybe a flat out point guard depending on the coach. The Odom/Simmons matchup would be something to see.

[Kblaze8855]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/InfantileScornfulBlowfish-size_restricted.gif



I just love how that guy moved at his size.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/GleamingSpanishAdouri-size_restricted.gif

[Kblaze8855]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AmbitiousFearlessIchthyostega-size_restricted.gif


Hard to tell but he blocked the shot to start that break too.

[GOBB]

Tough. Pretty sure more would take Ben now given he still has some upside. But at his best Lamar Odom and Ben were pretty similar. Funny thing is Odom was a willing shooter which we want Ben to be. However he shot a below avg % from 3. I think if Ben did that the excitement would be short lived to “finally” and “He needs to improve as a shooter”. Nonetheless Lamar handles were far better than Bens. Like you said much more natural dribbler. A guard that grew to 6’10.

[Kblaze8855]

I really like both of them. And you’re right in that if Ben did start shooting....shot poorly...all people would say is he sucks shooting instead of that he won’t shoot. He does pretty much everything else between good and great but people have trouble accepting that basketball is everything that happens on the floor and not just your scoring or in this case shooting.

Which one id take would depend on the team....but it’s close either way.

[Reggie43]

Lamar was a franchise player level talent if he had his head on straight. Such a naturally skilled player that could do it all on both ends. He was one of my faves and was actually delusional enough to think he could have averaged close to a triple double once he hits his peak which is something he could have probably done in 2020 with the right team lol.

[Kblaze8855]

Yea these days it’s not that hard to imagine. On the Bucks in place of Giannis he might do 20/11/10 or so if asked to run it. Too many shooters and too many possessions to keep him below 8 assists most years I’d say. Given the minutes he’s flirt with a triple double several times. Ben did like 16/9/8 on a slower team than Odom in this hypothetical.

[GOBB]

With the way offenses run now I could see a triple double from him on a team like the Bucks

[Kblaze8855]

Wish we got more games of both of them being aggressive scoring wise:



https://youtu.be/VQVxocE_PL4





https://youtu.be/ssPrGWuNTyg



Just not in everyone’s nature though.

[iamgine]

Could've been a good long term partner to Wade along with Caron Butler.

Wade-Butler-Odom, pretty dope.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Simmons because of his defensive impact. Worthless off the ball but good enough with it to keep the ball in his hands.