After a day of negotiations, the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics finalized terms on a massive trade that sends the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The deal will be made official when the NBA league offices re-open on Monday.
With that selection, the 76ers will select Washington guard Markelle Fultz.
With the addition of Fultz, the 76ers will become the first in NBA history to have two #1 overall picks debuting at the same time, as 2016 #1 overall pick Ben Simmons missed last season due to a foot injury.
In exchange, the Boston Celtics will reportedly receive the #3 overall pick in the 2017 draft and either the Los Angeles Lakers 2018 first round pick or the Sacramento Kings 2019 first round pick.
The Lakers will reportedly receive the Lakers 2018 selection if the pick falls within the 2-5 range. Otherwise, it stays with Philadelphia and the Celtics receive the Kings unprotected 2019 first round pick from Philly.
Deals like this would typically be done on draft day, but there’s reason to believe both teams still hope to make moves prior to Thursday’s selection show.
The Celtics appear to have their eyes on players like Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls and Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, in hopes of building a team that can compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
Any move by the 76ers would likely be smaller. That could include looking to finally deal center Jahlil Okafor, dealing a second round pick or two, or potentially moving a player like Jerryd Bayless or Justin Anderson.
If Boston elects not to move the selection, they’re reportedly interested in small forwards Josh Jackson (Kansas) and Jayson Tatum (Duke).
The 2017 NBA Draft will take place Thursday, June 22nd.
