Are Sixers leaning toward Simmons over Ingram?

Do the 76ers prefer Ben Simmons over Brandon Ingram?

A Bleacher Report article on Wednesday gave that impression. The website, citing several league sources, reported that the Sixers were "leaning heavily toward" selecting the Louisiana State forward with the first overall pick in the June 23 NBA draft.

The Sixers didn't publicly give an indication of which player they were leaning toward late Tuesday night after they won the draft lottery in New York. At the time, coach Brett Brown said he had no idea whom president of basketball operation Bryan Colangelo will draft.

When asked which player he wants, Sixers co-managing owner Josh Harris responded with a smile. "Ah, come on. I can't . . . It's early. I'll leave that to Bryan."

Colangelo said at the lottery, "You will have to ask that question on June 23," when the Sixers are ready to announce it.

"There's no truth to us leaning in any direction," Colangelo said Wednesday in response to the report. "This all just came down last night. . . . There is no decision that has been made. There is no direction that any particular group is leaning."

The report said the organization would do its due diligence in investigating Ingram, a small forward out of Duke. Then it added that the Sixers have great confidence in the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Simmons, who has ties to the Sixers.

Simmons' father, Dave, played for Brown in Australia, where Simmons was born and raised. Brown is also the former coach of the Australian national team. In addition, Simmons is familiar with David Martin, the Sixers' director of performance research and development. Martin had a senior sports science position with the Australian Institute of Sport before being hired by the Sixers last summer.

Although he was merely answering a question, Brown told Fox Sports that Simmons compares to Magic Johnson and a young LeBron James, which won't do much to quiet the speculation.

A league scout said Wednesday that he wasn't surprised by the report that the Sixers are leaning toward Simmons. He added that it doesn't have anything to do with the Australian bond he shares with Martin and Brown.

"You want the best player you can have," the scout said. "He's a franchise player. You want the best talent available. He's the best player in the draft, bar none."

The Sixers will participate in the Utah Jazz Summer League for the second straight year. The four-team event will run July 4-7 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena and the University of Utah's Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

The Sixers will open against the Boston Celtics on July 4. Then they will face San Antonio on July 5 and cap the camp by facing the Jazz on July 7.

The team also will participate in the NBA Summer League, which runs in Las Vegas July 8-18.

kpompey@phillynews.com

@PompeyOnSixers

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