Pope of Basketball.

Summary

In the 2016 NBA Draft, the 76ers secured the first overall pick, selecting Ben Simmons despite concerns from his agent about his potential as a bust. Fans were skeptical due to the 76ers' poor track record with player loyalty. The Lakers picked second, choosing Branden Ingram, while the Timberwolves selected Jaylon Brown third. The Bucks and Raptors made notable selections as well, but the draft was considered weak overall. Malcolm Brogdon was picked 30th by the Clippers, who saw potential in him despite average stats. Yang Rui planned to trade Zach LaVine, given the Clippers' talent surplus. The Clippers also selected Zhou Qi at 35 and Wang Zhelin at 57, while free agency saw many high-value contracts, with players like De Luo Zan and Elle Huo Fu De signing lucrative deals. The Clippers faced challenges retaining talent as Middleton left for the Trail Blazers. Despite disappointing free agency outcomes, the Clippers re-signed De Lei Meng De at a reduced price, emphasizing team loyalty over individual contracts.

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