Report: Celtics to trade No. 1 pick to 76ers for No. 3, future 1st-rounder
The trade between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 1 overall draft pick appears to be a done deal.
The two teams have agreed to the terms, and the deal will be finalized on Monday, a source told NBA.com's David Aldridge. The Sixers will use the pick to draft point guard Markelle Fultz, who they hosted for a workout and meeting Saturday night.
In exchange, the Celtics will receive the Sixers' No. 3 pick, as well as either the Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 first-round pick or the Sacramento Kings' 2019 first-rounder, according to multiple reports.
The Lakers pick will be top-one and bottom-25 protected, meaning it will only convey if it falls between No. 2 and No. 5, sources told Sixers beat reporter Derek Bodner. (The league changed its rules last summer, allowing teams to put their own protections on unprotected picks they've received in previous trades.)
If that Lakers pick ends up staying in Philadelphia, the Celtics will instead receive the Kings' unprotected 2019 pick.
The Celtics were reportedly worried about their preferred pick in the coming draft, swingman Josh Jackson, being taken second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers - a possibility that reportedly had them considering waiting until draft night to consummate the trade.
It's possible they've been given the necessary assurances that Jackson will still be on the board at No. 3. It's also possible the assets coming back from Philadelphia are all that matters. There are rumblings that the Celtics are planning to turn around and make another deal, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
In the meantime, the Celtics are set to add another high-end pick to their swelling war chest, giving them seven first-rounders in the next three drafts.
Meanwhile, in Fultz and Ben Simmons - the latter of whom sat out his entire rookie campaign with a foot fracture - the Sixers will add two No. 1 picks to their budding roster next season.
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