Hey there, it's Gary Parrish, it's Thursday June 16th and this is of course the Ion College

Basketball Podcast.

I got Matt Norlander with me, got Sam Vassini with me and we're now just one week away from

the 2016 NBA draft that among the biggest stories, if not the biggest story is, the Ben Simmons

has refused to date to work out for or speak with the Philadelphia 76 or Sam, I want to

start with you.

And I guess we've known since the lottery was finalized with the Sixers Pickin' First

and the Lakers picking second that this was a likely scenario that Ben Simmons would prefer

to be in LA for a variety of reasons.

So Lakers instead of the Sixers, it's LA instead of Philly.

And I don't mean that as a shot at Philly, but if you're going to be young and wealthy,

like LA is a hell of a great place to live, that's why more young and wealthy people live

in LA than Philadelphia.

He can get bigger endorsement deals as a Laker than a Sixer.

There's a whole bunch of reasons for Ben Simmons to prefer to be in LA Laker than a Philadelphia

76 or so.

So I think we've always known this was a possibility that he might try to force his hand and get

to LA.

But we now know, because for certain, because in the past couple days, Brian Calangelo

has acknowledged that to date they haven't been able to do anything with Ben Simmons.

Here's my question for you.

If you were the Sixers and you had convinced yourself Ben Simmons is the best prospect in

...