The Celtics are considering trading down in the loaded draft class
The Boston Celtics are in serious talks to trade the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Zach Lowe. The 76ers own the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.
According to Lowe, the deal would include multiple picks going from Philadelphia to Boston without any players involved. The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the potential deal would include the 76ers’ No. 3 pick, as well as future first-round picks.
The 76ers also own the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick, as well as the Sacramento Kings’ 2019 first-rounder.
The 76ers are awaiting medical information on Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, widely regarded as the best available prospect in this year’s draft class, according to Wojnarowski.
Fultz’s college basketball season came to a close early after the Washington Huskies failed to make the NCAA tournament with a 9-22 record on the season. The freshman guard had a sensational year, averaging 23 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, along with 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks on the defensive end.
After his freshman season, Fultz was next seen at a 76ers game in early April. When asked about the idea of playing in Philadelphia, he said “Oh, man, I can see it happening. I think it would be a great atmosphere, so it would be cool."
The Celtics finished last season with the East’s best record, but acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets in 2013. Boston also owns Brooklyn’s pick in 2018.
Boston dangled the Brooklyn pick when trying to acquire Jimmy Butler and Paul George at the trade deadline. The Celtics have Isaiah Thomas, an All-Star point guard in the prime of his career, and need a top-notch wing player to help push the team to the next level.
If Boston completes this trade, it could select Duke’s Jayson Tatum or Kansas’ Josh Jackson at No. 3. ESPN’s Chad Ford cited a front office source that was convinced the Celtics would draft Jackson days before the trade rumors surfaced.
"I've picked Danny's brain for years," the general manager said. "Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1."At No. 3, Boston would be able to select Lonzo Ball if the Los Angeles Lakers pass on him, and would also have first dibs on other remaining guards, including Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, North Carolina State’s Dennis Johnson, and Kentucky’s Malik Monk.
The purported trade would also solidify a formidable 76ers starting lineup, if healthy. Philadelphia drafted Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in 2014 and 2016. Embiid is coming off one of the better rookie seasons of this century, but only played 31 games due to injuries. Simmons never touched the floor his rookie season but is expected to return for the start of next year.
Philadelphia also enjoyed a strong rookie season from Dario Saric, whose rise makes the 76ers future even scarier. Potentially adding Fultz, an electrifying scorer both on and off the ball, could give Philadelphia a shot at swiftly changing its standing as perennial Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers.
