76ers take Fultz, Lakers grab Ball in NBA draft
Raptors snag forward Anunoby with 23rd pick
NEW YORK• The Philadelphia 76ers got the player they wanted and Lonzo Ball the team he wanted.
The 76ers selected guard Markelle Fultz on Thursday night with the No. 1 pick after trading up earlier in the week to grab the high-scoring freshman guard from Washington.
The Los Angeles Lakers followed by taking Ball as the draft started with a pair of freshmen point guards from the Pac-12 Conference.
Picking in the 23rd spot, the Toronto Raptors selected OG Anunoby, a 6- foot- 8, 235- pound small forward from Indiana.
A night that’s usually about the rookies quickly was jolted by another of the big moves involving veterans that have come in a flurry since the NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls traded threetime all- star Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the No. 7 overall draft pick, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
While that was being completed, the draft got off to a familiar start with the same top- four picks as last year: Philadelphia, the Lakers, Boston and Phoenix.
The 76ers had the No. 1 pick for the second straight year after trading with the Boston Celtics on Monday. Now they add Fultz to a promising young core that includes Rookie of the Year finalists Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, plus Ben Simmons, the top pick from last year who sat out all season with a foot injury.
Ball then got the wish he and his father, LaVar, wanted all along by staying in Los Angeles, where he starred last season at UCLA. LaVar Ball had said his son would only play for the Lakers, and it was clear that would happen when Lonzo got a phone call with the Lakers on the clock.
As Lonzo walked on stage to meet Commissioner Adam Silver and put on a purple Lakers hat, LaVar put on a gold and purple Big Baller Brand hat, the company he has started.
“Tonight was supposed to be a good night. Definitely was, and now I’m just focused on playing,” Lonzo Ball said. “Just want to get on the court.”
The Celtics then took Duke’s Jayson Tatum at No. 3 after moving down two spots in the trade with Philadelphia. The Suns took Josh Jackson of Kansas, the Sacramento Kings took Kentucky guard De’Aaron Fox at No. 5 and the run of freshmen continued when the Orlando Magic selected Jonathan Isaac.