It takes a lot to gain approval from Magic Johnson and from the looks of it, Ben Simmons has done just that.
The Australian cager has captured the fancy of the Laker great, calling him perhaps the best all-around player he has seen since LeBron James.
Simmons is seen as the potential top pick for the 2016 NBA Draft and the Lakers have a good chance at landing him if the odds favor the purple and gold.
Right now, the Lakers are threatened only by the Philadelphia 76ers, who are the worst team in the 2016 NBA season. The final NBA Draft order will ultimately boil down to the NBA lottery.
Simmons could be a key addition to the Los Angeles Lakers if ever they do land him, possibly another young gun who could join the present ones – Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and D' Angelo Russell.
Johnson witnessed Simmons in action after LSU downed the University of Kentucky, 85-67. It wasn't one of the best games that Simmons had churned out but the fact that the former Laker guard left high regard to the 19-year-old speaks highly of what this kid will be eventually bringing to the NBA.
LSU's Ben Simmons is the best all around player I've seen since LeBron James came out of high school straight to the NBA!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 6, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">At 6-foot-9, Simmons has been widely likened to Johnson who was the official playmaker of the "Lake Show" back in the 80s. Johnson created matchup problems during his time and was seen playing other positions, including center when teammate and fellow legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went down to injury.
Simmons adds flexibility to any team who may end up picking him and the Lakers are hoping they are that team.
It does beg to ask the question of how the Lakers will play him. If he plays guard, what does the future hold for Clarkson and Russell?
A likely position he would play may be at small forward, a position that retirement-bound Kobe Bryant is currently holding. If all that materializes, the only thing the Lakers would need is a young center to complete their young starting unit.
