2017 NBA Draft: Boston trades No. 1 Pick to Philadelphia

The Boston Celtics have officially traded the No. 1 pick of 2017 NBA Draft to the Philadelphia 76ers. In exchange, the Celtics will receive the third pick of the draft and as well as a future first-round pick. The deal was made official on Monday (US time).

The future first-round pick is for 2018 via the Los Angeles Lakers. It is a conditional pick, with the Lakers having to land somewhere between the second and fifth pick. If that doesn’t happen, Philly will send to Boston the a 2019 first-round pick, which it received from the Sacramento Kings.

Washington University’s Markelle Fultz is expected to be selected by the Sixers with the pick. Philadelphia initiated the trade in order to land Fultz, who has been the hands-down consensus choice as the top prospect in the draft. They plan to form an intriguing backcourt combination of Fultz and Australian guard, Ben Simmons, who missed out on his rookie season in 2016-17 due to injury. The Sixers will have a versatile tandem with Simmons’ passing and rebounding abilities, complemented by Fultz’s spot-up shooting.

At this point, it is possible for Boston to make more moves. They have some depth at the guard and swing positions but are in need of a solid, big man to cover their thin power forward position.