76ers get No. 1 pick from Celtics, chance to draft Fultz

On Monday, the Sixers finalized a deal to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Celtics in exchange for the No. 3 pick and a protected future first-round pick.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick (which the Sixers now own the rights to) if it ends up being pick 2, 3, 4, or 5 overall.

In addition to this year’s No. 3 choice, the Celtics received another first-round pick that comes with several conditions.

Now the Celtics get to take the higher of the 76ers and Kings’ 2019 picks – unless, again, it’s No. 1 overall.

Griffin’s departure comes three days before the draft – the Cavs are now without a pick – and on the eve of free agency.

“I think January gave everyone a taste of what success feels like”, Colangelo said.

For the Sixers, they add the playmaking, franchise point guard they’ve been coveting during their rebuilding “process” to stand alongside Joel Embiid and the still-yet-to-debut Aussie phenom Ben Simmons. The Celtics would take whichever one is more favorable.

Ainge said he believes the Celtics may get the player they would have chosen at No. 1 at No. 3. If you had to grade out this trade, you’d say that both teams are getting what they want, but you’d have to say that it favors the Sixers at least slightly, considering we at least know what they’re getting out of it (Markelle Fultz).

For the past five years, the Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the worst performing teams in the National Basketball Association. It has been rumored that Ainge is really interested in drafting Josh Jackson from Kansas University, but he still could also trade the pick for an established star for a team that needs rebuilding. The Celtics are in a great position now since they have another future first-round pick and they secured a top three pick in this very special draft.

Last week prior to the rumored trade between Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Lonzo Ball’s camp is considering talks to other teams that have lottery picks below the Los Angeles Lakers.

The trade will likely result in the Sixers drafting standout Washington guard Markelle Fultz, who is widely regarded as the top prospect in the draft.

Not counting 2017’s first-rounder, the Celtics hold seven first-round picks through 2019. This, accompanied by players like Al Horford, Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown will bode well for Boston because they are all players who can do the little things while also stepping up in their specific roles to help the team win ball games night in and night out. You no longer see superstars like Tim Duncan or Grant Hill, to name two, stay all four years in college (Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green did but they weren’t expected to be stars in the NBA). They’re getting the player they want.