After finishing with the No. 1 seed in the East this season, they are trying to package some of their picks for an established star that could help them close the gap on National Basketball Association finalists Cleveland and Golden State.
"We've been evaluating these kids for a couple of years, and we felt like it was very close in the top handful of players". With the Celtics now owning the third pick, Smith thinks they'll engage in trade talks with the Bulls.
Which pick the Celtics will receive in 2018 or 2019 is a bit complicated. "So I think it's a good deal for both teams".
The pick is protected at No. 1 and 6-30, meaning the Sixers would send the Kings' 2019 first-rounder or the Sixers' own 2019 first-rounder (each protected if No. 1) if the LA selection doesn't convey. They felt as though their organization had just thrown away the flawless opportunity to draft a stud point guard in Washington's Markelle Fultz.
The former Celtics player, now their president of basketball operations, said the magnitude of the trade put it "under the microscope", and he acknowledged that he, as with others in his position, would be "judged" on how such big moves ultimately turned out. If you had to grade out this trade, you'd say that both teams are getting what they want, but you'd have to say that it favors the Sixers at least slightly, considering we at least know what they're getting out of it (Markelle Fultz).
Arab states want obedience from Qatar, alternative is parting ways - UAE minister
The Saudi-led bloc presented Qatar with a list of steep demands to end the crisis that has roiled the Gulf Cooperation Council. Gargash said the Turkish deployment was a "meaningless escalation" and he hoped Ankara would act in a "reasonable way".
It's still unclear who that player will be, as the Celtics were reportedly interested in Josh Jackson, though the Kansas product has yet to work out with the team. First-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and the Sacramento Kings in 2019 could turn into lottery picks, giving Boston more leverage in free agency. Theyre getting the player they want, said Ainge, the Celtics president of basketball operations. After Fultz's workout with the 76ers on Saturday, the franchise had seen enough to make the decision to make a deal with the Celtics that would allow them to draft Fultz at No. 1.
"I am incredibly excited that we've acquired the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft", 76ers managing general partner Josh Harris said. The Sixers used the No. 1 pick previous year on Ben Simmons, who missed the entire season because of a foot injury.
With Thomas, the Celtics didnt necessarily need a point guard which is the piece Philadelphia apparently wanted most.
Sixers big man Joel Embiid tweeted a photo of himself with Fultz, Simmons and Robert Covington along with the caption: "This should be legendary if it happens". Team Africa will be captained by the Lakers' Luol Deng, who is from the South Sudan, and Atlanta's Thabo Sefolosha, whose father is from South Africa.
Comments