NBA draft prospects talk Sixers with media (Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram)

The Sixersare taking Ben Simmons, at least according to everyone but the man himself.

When speaking to the media Wednesday ahead of Thursday night’s NBA draft, the presumptive No. 1 pick told ESPN’s Andy Katz“I haven’t heard anything about that, we will gave to wait till Thursday.”

“Anything can happen.”

Later when talking to the press, when asked if he would be surprised if he was not the No. 1 pick Simmons responded, “yes.”

The LSU star was alsolukewarmabout the prospect of playing for Brett Brown, the Sixers’ head coach who happened to coach Simmons’ father in Australia.

When asked by Katz what his father has told him about playing for Brown, Simmons said “He hasn’t told me much, that was a while back, times have changed a little bit.”

Simmons was excited to discuss the possibilities of teaming up with Philly’s big men, saying that “Me and Joel [Embiid] have known each other since high school,” and went on to describe himself as a point forward, different than Philly’s other bigs.

A few other NBA prospects chattedabout playing for the Sixers Wednesday, too.

Jamal Murray, the Kentucky prospect who could fall anywhere between No. 3 and No. 10, said even though he didn’t work out in Philly he could make a great fit with the team — especially if Duke’s Brandon Ingram were somehow also in the fold.

“Brandon [Ingram] and I were talking about how nice it would be if we both play for the Sixers,” Murray said, via Tom Moore.

Moore also said Ingram did not confirm that he knew who was taking him, though reports from ESPN suggest Ingram was told he will go No. 2 overall to the Lakers.

Kris Dunn is another player believed to have Sixers ties, and the Providence guard said he chatted with Sixers front-office members in Chicago.

“I’ve heard Brett Brown is an amazing coach,” Dunn told media members.

Rumors have swirled about Philly swapping Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor for the No. 3 pick, so they can pick Dunn to play point guard. No trade discussions have been confirmed, though the Celtics have been fielding offers for No. 3 overall for a long time.