Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum are top 3 picks in 2017 NBA Draft
Philadelphia 76ers acquired Washington guard Markelle Fultz as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took the center stage to begin the NBA Draft at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.
In his lone season at Washington, Fultz is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds a game and he was an effective shooter from 3-point range with 41.3 percent.
The 6-foot-4 point guard joined the former Louisiana State University guard Ben Simmons, who missed the entirely season of 2016-2017 due to broken foot, as consecutive top picks for the Sixers.
In addition, Fultz, who wore sneakers made of basketball, will be part of the process promising young core that includes Rookie of the Year finalist Joel Embiid and Dario Saric that could allow Philadelphia to rise from the bottom of the league.
Philadelphia got the No. 1 pick in a deal with Boston Celtics for the third pick and additional first rounder in either 2018 or 2019.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers pick the hometown favorite Lonzo Ball at No.2, a UCLA point guard who led college basketball in assists with 274 in a single season.
Ball averaged 14.6 points, a Division I-leading 7.6 asissts, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season with the Bruins. In fact, he was the first Pac-12 player to average at least 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a single season since Jason Kid.
In the third overall pick, the Celtics added small forward Jayson Tatum of Duke, one of the most skillful scorers in college basketball.
For the fourth pick, the Phoenix Suns selected Kansas forward Josh Jackson.
The Sacramento Kings went with De’Aaron Fox with the fifth overall selection, while Jonathan Isaac ended up as the no.6 pick by the Orlando Magic.
With the seventh pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Lauri Makkane and New York Knicks used the No. 8 pick to get Frank Ntilikina.
Moving forward, the Dallas Mavericks got Dennis Smith Jr. for the ninth overall selection.
In another draft day trade, the Kings sent the No. 10 pick to Portland Trailblazers for picks No. 15 and 20. The Blazers drafted Gonzaga big man Zach Collins.
With the 11th pick in the draft, Charlotte Hornets picked Kentucky’s high-scoring guard Malik Monk and Detroit Pistons got shooting guard Luke Kennard for the 12th pick.
Another trade in the draft happened between the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets, as the Jazz sent Trey Lyles and the No.24 pick to the Nuggets in exchange for the No.13 selection used to select guard Donovan Mitchell.
The Miami Heat made a surprising pick with the 14th overall selection in choosing Bam Adebayo.
Moreover, the Kings made their second selection in the first round by taking Justin Jackson in the No.15 draft, via trade with the Blazers.
The Bulls got Creighton big man Justin Patton but he ends up with the Timberwolves as part of the trade package with Jimmy Butler that Minnesota had with Chicago earlier in the day.
Milwaukee Bucks went with DJ Wilson for the 18th overall selection, Indiana had TJ Leaf for the No.18 pick, Atlanta pick John Collins for the 19th spot, and Sacramento used their final first round pick on Harry Giles at No.20 to sum up the first round lottery.
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