The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics reportedly will finalize a trade on Monday that will send the No. 1 pick — in next week’s NBA Draft — to the Sixers. And with that pick, the Sixers will take Washington point guard Markelle Fultz.
Trade between Philly and Boston will be finalized on Monday, per source. Sides have agreed. Sixers will get first pick and take Fultz.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 18, 2017
Sixers needed Fultz workout/meeting to complete deal w/ Celtics and, as expected, sides have deal for No. 1 pick. Trade call planned Monday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2017
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Sixers will send the Celtics this year’s No. 3 overall pick, as well as a first-round pick in 2018 (via the Lakers) or a first-round pick in 2019 (via the Kings). The 2018 pick has protections, so if that comes into play, the Celtics will instead get the 2019 pick.
Clarification on deal: Besides its 2017 FRP, Philly sends '18 Lakers pick w/ protections. If it doesn't convey, 76ers send 2019 Kings pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2017
The 2018 Lakers pick to BOS has protections on top and bottom that could keep it in Philly, and if so, then 2019 Kings' pick goes to Boston. https://t.co/l38PneUMdh
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2017
Philadelphia-based writer Derek Bodner says that the Celtics will get the 2018 pick if it falls between 2-5 in next year’s draft, otherwise they will get the 2019 pick.
Celtics will get Lakers pick if it falls between 2 and 5 in the 2018 draft, per league source. If not, the Celtics will get the Kings in '19
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 18, 2017
Woj adds that the Lakers were interested in moving up from the No. 2 pick to be able to draft Fultz, but couldn’t — or at least weren’t willing to — match the price. LaVar Ball would’ve certainly been quite angry about that.
So, the Sixers are going to add Fultz to a team that already has young stars in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Trust the process indeed.
A core of Markelle Fultz, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would be RIDICULOUS. I hope this deal happens, just so we can see that trio in Philly.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 16, 2017
Embiid, Simmons, and Fultz would be one of the highest upside foundations to enter the league on the same timeline in quite a while.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 16, 2017
Joel Embiid. Ben Simmons. Markelle Fultz. Worth every moment of the past four years. Now let's win some games.
— Jake Pavorsky (@JakePavorsky) June 18, 2017
Perhaps Embiid already knew early on Saturday that this trade would happen, and he’s certainly excited.
Trust The Process pic.twitter.com/LLNzDiBWpc
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 17, 2017
This should be legendary if it happens #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/234a42aoZW
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 18, 2017
While the 6’10” Simmons is built like a power forward, the Sixers have been using him basically as a point guard, and there’s been talk that Fultz could even play off the ball at shooting guard with Simmons running the point.
If Philly gets Fultz, would certainly give Sixers a backup plan to the Ben Simmons point guard experiment. Fultz can play on and off ball.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 16, 2017
Whatever the case, the Sixers are now loaded with young talent, and their fans finally have a reason to really be excited.
As for the Celtics, it was expected all along that they may trade this pick, given that they already have a star point guard in Isaiah Thomas.
The Celtics' overflowing backcourt also factored into their decision to pass on Fultz, sources say.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 18, 2017
And there is even talk that they may trade the No. 3 pick now too.
NBA exec to me: "I'd bet just about anything Boston doesn't end up picking at 3. At least not for themselves. It will move again."
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 18, 2017
The Celtics could also be acquiring more first-round picks to deal for Jimmy Butler, per league source.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 16, 2017
The Celtics were the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed in 2016-17, and they’re now loaded with assets going forward.
The Celtics will soon have 8 first round picks from 2017-2019, including 4 from teams that combined to win 106 games last season.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 18, 2017
So, it will be interesting to see what the Celtics choose to do with this pick (and/or their other picks) over the next week, and Danny Ainge certainly has his organization in a terrific position.
