The Celtics will pick first overall in the 2017 NBA draft, having won Tuesday night’s lottery one night after they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The C’s, who exercised their rights to swap with the Nets, entered the lottery with the best odds (25.0%) to land that No. 1 overall pick.
The Lakers were the other big winners in the lottery, moving up to No. 2, ensuring that they’ll keep both this year’s pick and 2019’s first-rounder. Had Los Angeles’ pick fallen outside of the top three, it would have been sent to the Sixers, and the Lakers would’ve owed their unprotected 2019 first-rounder to Orlando. Instead, the Lakers will keep this year’s pick and 2019’s, and will send Philadelphia their unprotected 2018 first-round selection.
The Kings also moved up into the top three, but the Sixers will acquire that pick, exercising their right to swap with Sacramento. The Kings will pick at No. 5, which is where Philadelphia would have selected. Sacramento will also land the Pelicans’ selection at No. 10. That New Orleans selection was acquired by the Kings in February’s DeMarcus Cousins trade and was top-three protected.
The Suns are the night’s biggest losers, having moved from No. 2 in the lottery standings down to No. 4 overall. The Magic, Timberwolves, and Knicks each moved down one spot as well.
Here’s the full lottery order for the 2017 NBA draft:
- Boston Celtics (via Nets)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Philadelphia 76ers (swapped with Kings)
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings (swapped with Sixers)
- Orlando Magic
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New York Knicks
- Dallas Mavericks
- Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans)
- Charlotte Hornets
- Detroit Pistons
- Denver Nuggets
- Miami Heat
Tonight’s lottery results are fascinating on a number of levels, but particularly so for two of the NBA’s most-storied franchises, the Celtics and Lakers. Boston is in position to either pick a player like point guard Markelle Fultz, considered by draft experts to be a future star, or to dangle that No. 1 overall pick in a trade for an established veteran star next month. The Celtics are coming off a season in which they earned the top seed in the East, and they also own the Nets’ unprotected first-round pick in 2018, so the franchise is extremely well-positioned for the future.
As for the Lakers, they’ll breathe a sigh of relief after hanging onto their 2017 first-rounder, and they’re in position to create a union that has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks. UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball is widely viewed as the second-best prospect in this year’s draft, and he and his father LaVar have made no secret of the fact that Lonzo wants to play for the Lakers. Tonight’s lottery results make that a very real possibility.
The Kings are another winner tonight, having moved up from No. 8 to No. 5 and having also held onto the Pelicans’ pick at No. 10. Sacramento will be in a great position to pick two cornerstone pieces to kickstart the club’s rebuilding process.
Let’s go lakers !!
Hahaha, Now the Lakers can take the Brainless Ball Bunch.
Please Lakers take Lonzo so Lavar can shut up
Wooooo fired up for the Celtics!
They also have the 2 draft and stash guys they drafted last season and a bunch of cap space. This could be fun.
3 draft and stash guys…nader, yabusele, and zizic
Ooh yes what a major COO ! Go celts Go!!
Would be crazy if the Celtics took Ball, but I think Fultz will be the better player and they will take him.
The process continues for the Sixers……and continues…..and continues……
With Malik Monk or Jayson Tatum! On the way up…
I wonder what injured player they will draft this year
Billy King really did a number on the Nets
Worst position for the Sixers. I’d rather have 5th and take Monk. They’ll take Fox, he can’t shoot, MCW all over again if he doesn’t live up to the John Wall comp. Celtics take Fultz or trade it, Lakers take Ball or trade it. The only way I see Fultz or Ball slip is if a team trades and takes Jackson or Tatum. Maybe the Pacers to replace PG13 if they plan to resign Teague. Maybe Sixers can trade up to 1 by packaging 3rd and Lakers 2018 and Okafor. I’d probably do that trade to get Fultz.
No way Celts make that trade. If the Celts trade #1, they will take a proven player plus picks.
If the Celtics had the option of Fultz, or Josh Jackson/Tatum or anyone else you want at 3, the Lakers pick next year, and Okafor they would think long and hard. They get a player who is a better fit long term, lets them keep Isiah, they get a 2nd high pick in 2018, and a post up young big. Okafor isn’t great but he is still young and has potential if he can work on an outside shot over the summer. Maybe do Covington instead and Boston definitely bites.
Nope. They’ve got two young bigs they drafted last year coming over next season. That will help with the rebounding issue. Okafor is too soft.
Boston would at least consider a deal with Philly. If I was Boston, I’d want Saric instead of Okafor.
They won’t take Fox. They will take either Ball (who I am not convinced is going to LA) or Josh Jackson.
Jackson is a great athlete… but Colangelo is not a good GM, so Fox probably gets over-drafted I think he’s more 6th to 9th best player in the draft.
Josh Jackson
The “ball” bounced perfectly for Laker’s.
Danny Ainge will listen to offetsfor the #1 pk if they can swing a big man in another pick for the number one pick if they’ll do it
Will Fox be around at 8 for the Knicks?
No
Very doubtful. I’d think the furthest he would fall will be Orlando at 6 and he will probably be gone before that.
Im a big laker fan but this has to be rigged. It seems too good to be true
Yes it’s rigged for Lakers to get back up top
They had a 50% chance to have the pick go 1-3 so i dont see how it is rigged for the Lakers. Plus if the NBA is rigged why did they not let CP3 go to the LAkers 5+ years ago?
Come on
Boston’s future now locked into place, the Celtics will now accept offers for the 2018 Nets pick. Fultz will learn for a year, then take over when Thomas is dealt.
You think lakers taking ball will shut LaVar up. Come on. He’s selling a brand. And with all in La what better place. He wants all the tv time he can get. Daddy gonna follow his son To everything.
Lavar Ball is like a real life character from a Friday movie or Madea movie… Or a chapelle parody. Such an embarrassment. But at least he got a bunch of orders for that 500$ shoe… Going to be a thousandaire. Luckily his son will be a millionaire and he can suckle at that teet until he dies. Not like a 10-million dollar vesting bonus like Ben Simmons but u know genius marketing to get that brand going. Maybe he’ll resort to begging rich people for money to save his brand like Kayne.
Let’s see, LaVar Ball has raised and trained a son that was able to be recognized as one of the best college basketball players in the country. By doing so this son will now be a millionaire playing basketball in the basketball league on the entire planet. He also has 2 other sons that are allegedly also very talented at basketball who will also attend ucla. He’s taken a very active life in all of his sons’ upbringing. He’s also created a brand in BBB that while outrageously priced, has now become notorious. So explain to me what exactly has he done wrong to need such negativity? We should all be so fortunate to have fathers that set pathways for their kids to be successful.
Well see how these kids turn out. Lavar has a chance to be Marv Marinovich a good 30 for 30 to watch. And he cost Lonzo an actual sneaker deal. Hell have to sell 20k shoes to equal Simmons bonus, not deal, but bonus. That’s not including the expenses for making the shoes. Whereas instead of a guaranteed deal, Lonzo flops, BBB has 2 more strikes left and the air has already been let out of the balloon. I just see a moron and a kid sitting there silent like a putz dealing with drunk on fame dad.
And for Alllll of that training Aaron Mckie has a better looking shot. He won’t be playing against college scrub guards. I don’t see that shot working at the NBA level shooting from below his chest. “and Ball gets blocked again”. He makes it in college… But does it translate IDK.
Please. The dude has basically pimped out his kids for his own financial gain.
The best thing that can be said about him is at least he’s not trump.
So you wouldnt wanna be one of the richest men on the planet? President of the best country on Earth? Even if thats true he has made his kid a millionaire and id like to see you try and do the same.
Notorious doesn’t mean it’s a positive thing.
You said it Chris! LaVar may be a BIG MOUTH but he’s an A-One first class all star parent who has devoted everything to his children! If we had more LaVar Ball fathers out there we might not have so many high school drop out, opioid addicted, gang banging losers out there
What is with all this trade IT4 crap he’s the the best player on your team I’m a big Boston fan but some of are fans are the biggest idiots ever
IT4 is not going anywhere he is Boston best player and now with the no 1 draft pick they will be something.
IT4 trades are out there b/c they don’t want to spend 200M on him. IF I were trading him, I”m looking at the most desperate teams…. Nets & Kings. And since the Nets have nothing to trade (Lopez is paid too much for a good trade), then fleecing the Kings looks like a good option. IT4 for 5th overall + take your pick of any player(s) on the roster. You’re only doing this b/c Fultz looks like a stud and with the 5th you’re grabbing Isaac or Markkanen.