DEALIN’ DAYS
Celtics and 76ers in talks to swap first and third overall picks in Thursday’s NBA Draft
The Process continues. The Celtics are in talks to deal their No. 1 pick to the Sixers ahead of Thursday’s NBA draft, according to multiple reports.
Philadelphia, a team that’s dealt with crushing injuries while trying to build itself up for several years, already has the No. 3 pick, but reportedly wants to take Markelle Fultz first overall.
Boston would then snag the Sixers’ pick this year in a package that includes several picks but no players.
The Sixers are waiting on medical information on the Washington point guard, who announced Friday that he’s agreed to a Nike endorsement deal, according to The Vertical. The report said Fultz could be heading to Philadelphia for a meeting on Saturday.
Philly drafted Joel Embiid (No. 3 pick) in 2014, Jahlil Okafor (No. 3 pick) in 2015 and Ben Simmons (No. 1 pick) in 2016, but all three have dealt with injuries. This would be the Celtics’ first No. 1 draft pick since 1950.
— Amara Grautski l Monta Ellis of the Indiana Pacers and Reggie Bullock of the Detroit Pistons have been suspended five games under the NBA’s anti-drug program.
The league announced the suspensions without disclosing details of the violations. Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said the suspension was a “very serious matter” and would be dealt with.
FLOYD FLAGGED
Police say Vikings wide receiver Michael Floyd has been flagged for failed alcohol tests that are part of his monitoring for house arrest in Minnesota.
Police records obtained by the Star Tribune show that Floyd flagged his alcohol monitoring three times and missed another test. Floyd told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the reports are “totally false.” He allegedly blamed the results on consuming kombucha tea, which is fermented. The 27-year-old Floyd pleaded guilty on Feb. 12 in Scottsdale, Ariz., to extreme drunken driving.
Police say they found Floyd passed out behind the wheel on Dec. 12. He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.217, more than 2½ times the legal limit in Arizona.
DEVILS MULL PICK
With the NHL draft a week away, the New Jersey Devils are still holding the No. 1 pick and getting ready to use it.
Executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero said the team has gotten a couple of calls from teams asking what it would take to get the top pick in next Friday’s draft, but the choice still resides in New Jersey. Shero isn’t shedding any light on whose name will be called if the Devils make the selection at the United Center in Chicago.
Most experts think it will be either center Nolan Patrick of Brandon of the WHL or centerforward Nico Hischier of Halifax of the QMJHL.
LIBERTY WINGS IT IN OT
Shavonte Zellous scored 28 points, including the tying jumper with less than a second remaining in regulation, and the visiting Liberty beat the Dallas Wings 102-93 in overtime. Tina Charles added 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Liberty (7-4).