Here’s a pick-by-pick analysis of all the first-round selections in Thursday’s NBA draft:
1. 76ers
Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
The Process finally has arrived in Philadelphia, and it comes in the form of a young Big Three, featuring the uber-talented Fultz and young big men Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. No more tanking, Sixers.
2. Lakers
Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
LaVar Ball wins after all. His son is staying home with the Lakers. The 6-foot-6 point guard, who has been billed as Jason Kidd with a jumpshot, is being asked to turn around the franchise. No pressure, kid.
3. Celtics
Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
Look away, Nets fans. The highly skilled small forward is headed to Boston, where he could form a potent 1-2 forward tandem with Jaylen Brown, last year’s third overall pick, also obtained from Brooklyn.
4. Suns
Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
The slashing, defensive-minded forward gives the Suns a potentially elite duo, along with dynamic shooting guard Devin Booker, most teams would covet. It’s not a bad consolation prize for failing to pry Kristaps Porzingis away.
5. Kings
De’Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
Some believe the John Wall clone will be the best player in this draft, a high character blur of a 6-foot-5 point guard from Texas who is as impressive off the court as on it.
6. Magic
Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
Orlando needs a little bit of everything, and the Magic get that in the versatile 6-foot-10 forward, a long athlete who oozes upside and could provide an immediate presence on the defensive end.
7. Bulls-a
Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona
The sharpshooting Finnish 7-footer needs time to develop, and he should get that with the rebuilding Bulls, who dealt star Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves for the rights to Markkanen and guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn.
8. Knicks
Frank Ntilikina, G, France
Booed by some Knicks fans after his name was announced and cheered by others, Ntilikina will hear comparisons to Malik Monk and Dennis Smith Jr. — college stars Phil Jackson passed on — for years.
9. Mavericks
Dennis Smith Jr., G, N.C. State
Dallas was tempted to take Kentucky’s Malik Monk, but the Mavericks couldn’t pass on the ultra-talented Smith because of the need at point guard, despite his leadership and decision-making red flags.
10. Trail Blazers-b
Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
Defensively challenged Portland gets a rim protector in the 7-footer from Las Vegas, a two-way prospect who in March helped Gonzaga reach the Final Four for the first time, and could see big minutes immediately.
11. Hornets
Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
Once projected to go as high as sixth, the sweet-shooting 6-foot-3 guard from Arkansas fell out of the top 10 amid concerns about his size and ball-handling. But he can fill it up, and will carry a Texas-sized chip on his shoulders to the next level.
12. Pistons
Luke Kennard, G, Duke
The shooting-needy Pistons go with offense in the southpaw who shot 44 percent from downtown for Duke as a sophomore. Kennard will need to be an efficient scorer because he projects as a defensive liability.
13. Jazz-c
Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
A tenacious defender known for his ability to get into the lane, the Elmsford, N.Y., native is the first New York City-area prospect to go in the lottery since Kemba Walker in 2011.
14. Heat
Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
The sculpted Kentucky big man is a project on the offensive end, and should be given time to learn as Hassan Whiteside’s backup, a major need for Miami.
15. Kings-d
Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
The smooth 6-foot-8 forward should be the poster boy for the new draft rules that allow college prospects to work out for teams before deciding about their future. He returned to school and became a mid-first-round pick after going through the process a year ago.
16. Timberwolves-e
Justin Patton, C, Creighton
He needs to add significant bulk to his lithe 7-foot frame, but the skills — at both ends of the floor and even on the perimeter — are there for him to develop into a quality NBA big man.
17. Bucks
D.J. Wilson, F, Michigan
A 3-and-D type, the 6-foot-10 Wilson considered returning to school, but clearly made the right decision, and could be a fixture off the bench off the bat for the on-the-rise Bucks.
18. Pacers
TJ Leaf, F, UCLA
If Indiana deals Paul George, at least it has some young forwards with potential to build around in Leaf and Myles Turner. The former UCLA star is an offensive weapon, a skilled shooter who can score in the post.
19. Hawks
John Collins, F, Wake Forest
Insurance as a stretch four in the light of Paul Milsap’s upcoming free agency, the 6-foot-10 Collins can score inside and out, and broke Tim Duncan’s Wake Forest double-double record with 12 straight.
20. Kings-d
Harry Giles, F, Duke
Vlade Divac takes a gamble with Sacramento’s third pick, choosing this 6-foot-11 big man who made a minimal impact at Duke after undergoing three knee operations over the past three years.
21. Thunder
Terrance Ferguson, F, Australia
Oklahoma City added much-needed perimeter shooting help for Russell Westbrook in the 6-foot-7 Oklahoman, a deep threat who played professionally in Australia after initially committing to Arizona.
22. Nets
Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
After the D’Angelo Russell-Brook Lopez trade, the Nets needed a big man, and they find one in the 6-foot-11 Allen, a raw prospect who averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a freshman at Texas.
23. Raptors
OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
If not for a torn ACL in January, he likely would have been a lottery pick. The 6-foot-8 forward was considered the best defender in the draft, an athletic marvel who has a major injury to overcome.
24. Nuggets
Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
So much for making a mistake by entering the draft. Lydon needs to be more consistent with his shot and has a lot of work to do on the defensive end, but 6-foot-10 forwards with 3-point range are coveted.
25. 76ers-f
Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
Kristaps Porzingis’ one-time teammate, the 7-foot-2 center is a project offensively, but he does possess skills for someone his size, and the 76ers have proven to be overly patient.
26. Trail Blazers
Caleb Swanigan, F, Purdue
The best big man in the country, from a production standpoint, the 6-foot-9 Swanigan gives Portland another option up front, along with fellow first-round pick Zach Collins.
27. Lakers-g
Kyle Kuzma, F, Utah
The Lakers will be able to stretch opposing defenses with some elite-shooting big men. With center Brook Lopez and the 6-foot-9 Kuzma, the lane should be wide open for Lonzo Ball.
28. Jazz-h
Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
The first one-and-done UNC prospect in a decade, Bradley would have been one of the top big men in college basketball had he returned. Instead, the raw center should get used to the buses of the G-League.
29. Spurs
Derrick White, G, Colorado
This is a made-for-TV story, from Division II to the Spurs. After three seasons at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, White starred at Colorado this past season. Now he joins one of the league’s best franchises.
30. Lakers-i
Josh Hart, G, Villanova
A rare first-round pick who spent four years in college, Hart may lack the upside of the many one-and-done prospects in the draft, but he’s well-rounded and a polished product who should help immediately.
a-from Timberwolves; b-from Kings; c-from Nuggets; d-from Trail Blazers; e-from Bulls; f-from Magic; g-from Nets; h-from Lakers; i-from Jazz
