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Boston Celtics Trade Throwback #10: 2017 Pick Swap with 76ers

Jan 23, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) guards Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to a certain 2013 trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics had the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Interestingly, the Celtics had just ended the 2016-17 season as the No. 1 seed in the East. Boston was in prime position to draft Washington’s Markelle Fultz, the best prospect entering the draft, and beef up their already talented roster. However, the Celtics eventually traded this pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for their third overall pick and a future first-rounder. This move was considered controversial and risky at the time. Luckily for the Celtics, though, they used their new pick on forward out of Duke instead–Jayson Tatum.

Six years later, how did this swap work out for both teams?

Boston Celtics Trade Throwback #10: 2017 Pick Swap with 76ers

Full Celtics-76ers Trade Details

Boston Celtics receive: 2017 No. 3 pick (later became Jayson Tatum) and a 2019 first-round pick (later became Romeo Langford)

Philadelphia 76ers receive: 2017 No. 1 pick (later became Markelle Fultz)

Why the Boston Celtics Made the Trade to Draft Jayson Tatum

The Celtics were guard-heavy in 2017. On top of rostering Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, the team also had Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier in rotation. However, all four guards were going to need new contracts by 2019. This is where adding Fultz was a good idea on paper. He could help the Celtics immediately and become the replacement for one of the aforementioned guards. Celtics GM Danny Ainge, however, had other plans.

Although many deemed Fultz the best prospect in the draft, Ainge felt differently. Ainge decided to trade down with the 76ers and swap picks while also adding a future draft pick for the Boston Celtics. Why did he do this, though? Simply put, Ainge preferred Tatum over Fultz. Tatum filled a need at the wing and was objectively the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft. For a team that was already contending, this was important. In 2020, Ainge was a guest on Zach Lowe’s “The Lowe Post” and made it clear his eyes were set on Tatum from the beginning.

“There was a story that came out this week about Jayson going to Phoenix. Jayson was never gonna end up in Phoenix,” Ainge told Lowe. “Even if he didn’t come in for that second workout with us days before the draft in Boston, we were still going to take Jayson Tatum.

Ainge has also said that he felt “the draft was very even” at the top of the board. This narrative that Fultz was clearly the top guy in the draft was not one Ainge believed. With Fultz atop everyone’s draft board, Ainge believed he could trade down, grab an extra asset or two, and draft his main target anyway.

Why the 76ers Traded Up for Markelle Fultz

Fultz was the top prospect in the draft. Additionally, the 76ers drafted Ben Simmons with the first overall pick the year before, and it looked like they were finally moving along in “the Process.” The thought of Fultz, Simmons, and Joel Embiid (who were all younger than 25 at the time) on the same team was exciting. Sure, someone like Tatum would have been a good addition, but the fit was clear as day with Fultz. In the 76ers’ mind, they got the best player in the draft while only giving up one additional first-round pick to do it. Plus, the 76ers were not the only team interested in trading up for Fultz.

After the trade news broke, Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report talked about how the Los Angeles Lakers were interested in trading up to draft the Washington guard:

In addition to the Sixers, the Lakers wanted the No. 1 overall pick after Fultz’s workout blew them away, per Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.

Wojnarowski added Saturday that while the Lakers were interested in a deal, the 76ers provided too many first-round picks for Los Angeles to compete with.

Givony reported the Lakers were considering sending the No. 2 overall pick and forward Julius Randle to Boston for No. 1.

It was clear Fultz was a hot commodity in 2017. Evidently, the 76ers proved to be the team most interested in him and took charge to ensure they were the ones who ended up with the guard on their roster.

Aftermath

Boston Celtics

After drafting Tatum, the 2017 offseason was a wild one for the Celtics. Boston traded Thomas and Bradley to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons for Kyrie Irving and Marcus Morris, respectively. Additionally, Boston signed Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz to a max contract. Heading into the 2017-18 season, the Celtics only retained four players–Brown, Smart, Rozier, and Al Horford. Many considered the 2017-18 Celtics one of the league’s best and were title contenders. However, due to a shocking injury to Hayward on opening night, the Celtics had to overcome adversity. Additionally, Irving suffered a knee injury during the season that required surgery that caused him to miss the 2018 playoffs.

Ultimately, the 2018 Celtics finished with a 55-27 record and managed to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Funny enough, the Celtics eliminated the 76ers in five games in the second round along the way. The team would go on to lose to the Cavaliers in seven games, however.

Jayson Tatum

As a rookie, Tatum played and started 80 games. On the year, Tatum averaged 13.9 points, five rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Additionally, Tatum shot an impressive 43.4 3pt% and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting behind Simmons and Donovan Mitchell. Due to the absence of Irving and Hayward, Tatum was forced into a larger role in the postseason. Tatum led the team in scoring in the playoffs, averaging 18.5 points per game.

Through six seasons, Tatum has averaged 22.5 points, seven rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. So far, the 25-year-old has been selected to four All-Star teams, two All-NBA First teams, one All-NBA Third team, and one All-Rookie First team. In 2022, Tatum became the first ever Larry Bird trophy recipient as he was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

Tatum has improved each year and finished fourth in MVP voting last season. Heading into his seventh season, Tatum is trending towards signing a supermax contract extension with the Celtics in 2024 that could make him the richest player in league history.

Philadelphia 76ers

For the first time since 2012, the 76ers made the playoffs during the 2017-18 season. Finishing with a 52-30 record, the 76ers were the No. 3 seed, just one spot behind the Celtics. In 81 games, Simmons, the Rookie of the Year, averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. In the same season, Embiid became Philadelphia’s first All-Star since Jrue Holiday in 2013. During the playoffs, the 76ers defeated the Miami Heat in five games before they were eliminated by Tatum and the Celtics.

Markelle Fultz

Unfortunately for Fultz, his 76ers career was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Shortly after he debuted, Fultz suffered a shoulder injury. During his first four games, Fultz did not attempt a single three-point shot and only averaged six points on 33.3 FG% per game. Fultz missed about five months of action due to the injury. Videos of Fultz’s new shooting form surfaced during his recovery. Many critiqued Fultz, and things started looking bad for the 2017 first overall pick.

In 14 total games during his rookie year, Fultz averaged 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Fultz only appeared in three playoff games against the Heat in 2018 but scored five points total. Throughout his entire rookie season, Fultz attemped (and missed) one three-point shot.

The 76ers named Fultz the starting shooting guard of the 2018-19 season, but he would only play in 19 games. This was due to him wanting the team to re-evaluate his shoulder injury. All of this led to drama and conflict between Fultz and the organization. On February 7, 2019, the 76ers traded Fultz to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons and picks (one of which was a 2020 first-rounder that later became Tyrese Maxey).

Since this trade, Fultz has played in parts of four seasons with the Magic, averaging 12.7 points per game. After tearing his ACL in January 2021, Fultz is coming off a career year where he averaged 14 points and 5.7 assists per game. Additionally, Fultz’s 31 3pt% from last season is by far a career high for him as well. Heading into the 2023-24 season, Fultz is likely the team’s starting point guard.

Last Word on the Jayson Tatum-Markelle Fultz Swap

The 76ers were never getting Tatum. This is something to be understand when talking about this trade. In an article for FanNation, Justin Grasso mentioned that, if it was not Fultz, it would not have been Tatum for the 76ers either:

“[Brett] Brown loved Jonathan Isaac,” Weitzman wrote. “Colangelo liked him too, but he was also intrigued by Kansas wing Josh Jackson and Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox. He (Bryan Colangelo) had all three ranked ahead of Tatum.”

Since 2017, there has constantly been a “what-if” narrative about Tatum playing for the 76ers. In reality, that was never an option. The 76ers were always going to land Fultz, and the Celtics were always going to land Tatum.

That said, for the 76ers, it is unfortunate that Fultz did not pan out for the team. Although he is having a bit of a resurgence in Orlando, Fultz spent less than two seasons with the 76ers and did not make a positive impact with the squad.

As for the Boston Celtics, it is pretty clear they walked away as winners of this trade. Tatum is well on his way to becoming a perennial MVP candidate if he is not already there. Plus, with Tatum at the helm, the Celtics should be title contenders for years to come.

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