NBA draft intrigue: Why swapping picks could bring value to both Celtics, Sixers.
Celtics stockpile picks; Sixers get chance at star
The NBA on Monday approved the Boston Celtics’ deal that will shake up the top of Thursday’s draft. Boston is sending the No. 1 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 3 pick and a future firstrounder.
The Sixers plan to take Washington guard Markelle Fultz at No. 1 overall, but the Celtics’ choice is up in the air. Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, Kansas’ Josh Jackson, Duke’s Jayson Tatum and North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith are viable options at the No. 3 pick.
Two-plus decades have passed since a team with the No. 1 pick traded it before the draft. In 1993, the Orlando Magic traded the No. 1 pick to the Golden State Warriors for the No. 3 pick and three future first-rounders. The Warriors took Chris Webber, and the Magic selected Penny Hardaway.
Orlando reached the NBA Finals in 1995 and Eastern Conference finals in 1996 but never won a title.
Deal specifics
No players were traded.
The Celtics get two picks from the 76ers total: No. 3 this year and a pick in 2018 or 2019.
The Celtics only gave up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. Nothing else.
The 76ers cannot lose out on a No. 1 overall pick in this trade, the way the Brooklyn Nets did this year.
What this deal means for the Celtics
Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge took a risk, especially if Fultz turns out to be a generational player similar to the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry. If Ainge thought that would happen, he wouldn’t have made the trade.
Ainge must think he can get a similar talent at No. 3 and was willing to take that gamble. Plus, Ainge stockpiled another firstround pick, giving Boston the No. 3 pick this year; two first-rounders in 2018 (own pick, Brooklyn’s picks) and a possible third firstrounder from the Los Angeles Lakers; at least one and possibly three more protected first-rounders in 2019 (Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings or Philadelphia, Los Angeles Clippers).
The trade also frees up more salary cap space for the Celtics to use on a maximum-salary player in free agency, which starts in July.
The difference in salary between the first pick and third pick is $1.4 million, and every dollar matters if the Celtics are trying to land a player such as the Utah Jazz’s Gordon Hayward or the Clippers’ Blake Griffin.
What this deal means for the Sixers
If the Sixers think Fultz will be a franchise-changing player and they turn out to be right, the trade is a no-brainer. The Sixers gave up just one draft pick to move up two spots for the guy they believe will be that player.
The Sixers will have a young core centered on 2016-17 rookie of the year candidates Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, who didn’t play last season because of an injury, and Fultz. There’s a lot of potential in that group, but it will take time for the 76ers to develop into an Eastern Conference contender.
While Fultz and Simmons are point guards, the Sixers think they can co-exist — specifically playing Fultz off the ball at shooting guard. That would allow Simmons to take advantage of his court vision and passing skills and let Fultz showcase his scoring while not running the offense.
Don’t be surprised if the Sixers continue to make significant deals during the offseason.