The biggest story of the NBA draft’s first round was the Bulls and Timberwolves swapping picks as part of a trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota in an absurdly low package. Apart from that, things unfolded largely without incident. Kristaps Porzingis is still a Knick, Paul George is still a Pacer, the world still turns.
The Philadelphia 76ers surprised no one by taking point guard Markelle Fultz of Washington with the first overall pick in the draft, after acquiring the pick earlier this week in a trade with Boston. This is the second consecutive year that Philly has had the first overall pick and the fourth straight year that they’ve had a pick in the top-three; this year, however, is the first of those in which they haven’t added another big man. (The Process is now, uh, F.E.D.S.?)
Lonzo Ball became a Laker with the No. 2 pick, as ordained by Zeus and Jesus, while the Celtics used their recently acquired No. 3 pick to take Jayson Tatum. And a whole bunch of other freshmen—a record 11 in total—were taken throughout the lottery. The first round in its entirety:
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Celtics via Nets)— Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
- Los Angeles Lakers — Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
- Boston Celtics (from 76ers via Kings) — Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
- Phoenix Suns — Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
- Sacramento Kings (from 76ers) — De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
- Orlando Magic — Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
- Chicago Bulls (via Timberwolves) — Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
- New York Knicks — Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
- Dallas Mavericks —Dennis Smith, PG, NC State
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans via Kings) — Zach Collins, PF, Gonzaga
- Charlotte Hornets — Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
- Detroit Pistons — Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
- Utah Jazz (from Nuggets) — Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
- Miami Heat — Bam Adebayo, PF, Kentucky
- Sacramento Kings (from Trail Blazers) — Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Bulls) — Justin Patton, C, Creighton
- Milwaukee Bucks — D.J. Wilson, PF, Michigan
- Indiana Pacers — T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
- Atlanta Hawks — John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
- Sacramento Kings (from Grizzlies via Trail Blazers) — Harry Giles, PF, Duke
- Oklahoma City Thunder — Terrance Ferguson, SG, Australian NBL
- Brooklyn Nets (from Wizards)— Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
- Toronto Raptors (from Clippers)— OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
- Denver Nuggets (from Jazz) — Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse
- Orlando Magic (via Raptors) — Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Cavaliers)— Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue
- Brooklyn Nets (originally from Celtics, proposed to Lakers in D’Angelo Russell trade) — Kyle Kuzma, PF, Utah
- Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets) — Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
- San Antonio Spurs — Derrick White, PG, Colorado
- Utah Jazz (via Warriors) — Josh Hart, SG, Villanova