TEEN FULTZ WALKS THE NBA DREAM
Boston, June 23: Markelle Fultz is a self-described hard worker and that diligence paid dividends Thursday as the Philadelphia 76ers made him the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA entry draft.
The 76ers acquired the top pick in a trade with the Boston Celtics a week ago, allowing them to move up and select the 19-year-old American.
“I figured out I had a chance to make it there (the NBA) probably in my 11th grade,” said Fultz, who played for the University of Washington Huskies last season. “I just realised that I was doing stuff that other kids weren’t doing and it just started to work out for me.”
The Los Angeles Lakers used the second pick to choose University of California at Los Angeles point guard Lonzo Ball.
The choice of Fultz fits in nicely with Philadelphia’s rebuilding program.
This was one of the youngest drafts in league history as a record 16 freshmen — or first year American college players — were selected in the first round.
The Lakers used their third straight number two pick on Ball.
Ball was projected to be picked by the Lakers’ new front office of Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka.
Ball’s father, LaVar, put on his Lakers hat even before the pick became official.
The Celtics used the third pick on Duke’s Jayson Tatum. The Suns picked fourth for the second straight year and selected Josh Jackson from Kansas.
Sacramento was the only team with two lottery picks. The Kings’ first pick at number five was guard De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky and they selected Zach Collins of Gonzaga at No. 10 with the pick obtained from New Orleans for DeMarcus Cousins.
Wolves snap up Butler The Minnesota Timberwolves swung a deal with the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler on Thursday, reuniting the former first round NBA draft pick with his former coach Tom Thibodeau.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the trade during the 2017 entry draft.
Butler was dealt for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to Finland’s Lauri Markkanen. Also going to Minnesota are the rights to Justin Patton, who was picked at no. 16 by the Bulls.
Thibodeau coached Butler from 2011 to 2015. He joined the Timberwolves last season with the titles of coach and head of basketball operations.
In other trades Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets traded Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard D’Angelo Russell and center Timofey Mozgov of Russia.
Also going to the Lakers are the rights to forward Kyle Kuzma, who was drafted with the 27th pick.