WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.
The 2017 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday saw the Boston Celtics get the No. 1 overall pick, while the Los Angeles Lakers landed in the top three for the third straight year.
Washington guard Markelle Fultz is believed to be the first overall selection, while Kansas’ Josh Jackson and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball are also considered contenders for the top spot. There is just over a month remaining until a decision is made.
The Lakers secured the second overall pick for the third consecutive season, and are expected to retain what would have been an unprotected first-round selection in 2019 — the remains of the Dwight Howard trade in 2012.
Los Angeles is also hoping to attract Paul George or some other high-profile free agent in 2018. However, Magic Johnson has other ideas for the Lakers in the meantime. The team’s president of basketball operations said the squad will likely build around the 2016 No. 2 overall pick, former Duke small forward Brandon Ingram.
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The Celtics obtained the Brooklyn Nets’ No. 1 pick via a selection trade they received in the notorious 2013 Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce swap.
The Philadelphia 76ers locked down the third overall pick for 2017. Had the Lakers fallen below the top three in this year’s draft lottery, their selection would have been granted to the Sixers via the Steve Nash trade in 2012. The Phoenix Suns sent Los Angeles’ pick they obtained in the swap to Philadelphia in a later trade involving Brandon Knight.
The New Orleans Pelicans, meanwhile, yielded their No. 10 draft pick to Sacramento. The Kings also secured the fifth overall selection via a trade with Philadelphia, something that seemed to delight Sixers center Joel Embiid despite his incorrect prediction that his team would land the tenth pick.
Here are the complete first-round lottery results:
1. Boston (From Brooklyn)
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Philadelphia (from Sacramento)
4. Phoenix
5. Sacramento (from Philadelphia)
6. Orlando
7. Minnesota
8. New York
9. Dallas
10. Sacramento (From New Orleans)
11. Charlotte
12. Detroit
13. Denver
14. Miami
15. Portland
16. Chicago
17. Milwaukee
18. Indiana
19. Atlanta
20. Portland (From Memphis via Denver and Cleveland)
21. Oklahoma City
22. Brooklyn (From Washington)
23. Toronto (From LA Clippers via Milwaukee)
24. Utah
25. Orlando (From Toronto)
26. Portland (From Cleveland)
27. Brooklyn (From Boston)
28. Los Angeles Lakers (From Houston)
29. San Antonio
30. Utah (From Golden State)
The Celtics will host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8:30 pm EST on Wednesday for Game 1 of the NBA Conference Finals, after eliminating the Washington Wizards in Game 7 of the Semifinals on Monday.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.
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