By: Brandon Apter, managing editor 
We are just hours away from the draft lottery and potential first overall pick Ben Simmons seems to prefer the Lakers as a landing spot. Why, you ask? Because joining the Lakers, according to Simmons and his representation, would likely make Nike increase their shoe deal offer to match adidas' offer. Here's an excerpt from Yahoo Sports' Nick DePaula:
Simmons has five-year endorsement offers from adidas and Nike. Adidas is offering a $10 million deal that also includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $1 million incentive bonus for being named Rookie of the Year. There are also several other on-court performance triggers that would provide Simmons with elevated marketing, extra resources and possibly his own signature shoe should he play at an All-Star level.
Nike is offering $7.5 million over five years with fewer performance incentives than the adidas contract structure. Nike, which presented second to Simmons last week, has shown an unwillingness to budge, sources said. Both offers are considered fair for a top pick.
The early strategy from Simmons and his Klutch Sports Group representation was believed to be a desire to sign a shoe deal before the draft lottery, but they aren’t satisfied with the Nike offer, sources said. They’re hoping that if the Lakers land the top overall pick – which they have a 19.9 percent chance of doing – Nike will move closer to matching adidas’ offer.
DePaula goes on to mention that D'Angelo Russell's Nike deal went up considerably after being selected by the Lakers to prevent him from signing with adidas last year. Russell was LA's first round pick in 2015, second overall.
The Sixers have the best odds to land the first overall pick, 26.9 percent to be exact, having their choice at either Simmons or Brandon Ingram. With Simmons reportedly preferring the Lakers, Philadelphia might lean more towards Ingram, but that remains to be seen.
LSU's Ben Simmons averaged 19.2 points at 11.8 rebounds per game this season while Duke's Brandon Ingram 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Ingram shot 44.2 percent from the field while Simmons shot 56 percent.
