We’ll break down the NBA Draft picks as they roll in from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center:
1. 76ers
Ben Simmons
PF, LSU
From “Trust the Process” to “The Next Answer?” After an epic tank job, Philly hopes the 6-foot-10 leaper with point-guard instincts is the generational talent they’ve lacked since Iverson.
2. Lakers
Brandon Ingram
SF, Duke
Unfairly hyped as belonging to the Kevin Durant mold, the Lakers and new coach Luke Walton will settle for a Klay Thompson type: guard 1 through 4 and shoot the lights out.
3. Celtics
Jaylen Brown
SF, California
After weeks of trade chatter (Jimmy Butler? Nerlens Noel?), GM Danny Ainge kept the pick and made a curveball selection of the physically gifted wing without an elite offensive skill.
4. Suns
Dragan Bender
PF, Croatia
Phoenix’s rebuild continues with the 18-year-old international, a 7-foot-1 stretch forward who can make plays in the open floor. Porzingis, he ain’t, so don’t ask for a phenom in Year 1.
Kris DunnGetty Images5. Timberwolves
Kris Dunn
PG, Providence
Tom Thibodeau reportedly coveted Dunn to round out a foundational Big 3 with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. The four-year college star is a natural floor general who excels on D.
6. Pelicans
Buddy Hield
SG, Oklahoma
Shooting is the NBA’s most precious commodity in 2016, and Hield brings in-the-gym range to a franchise built around Anthony Davis. Can he defend pro 2-guards?
7. Nuggets
Jamal Murray
SG, Kentucky
See above, re: shooting. A long-distance deadeye from the John Calipari factory, Murray teams up with last year’s lottery pick, Emmanuel Mudiay, to form a backcourt of the future.
8. Suns (as part of trade with Kings)
Marquese Chriss
PF, Washington
One projectable forward wasn’t quite enough for the Suns. The 6-foot-10 Chriss, still just 18, was undistinguished in one year for the Huskies, but has the bounciness scouts crave.
9. Raptors
Jakob Poeltl
C, Utah
The infamous Bargnani pick. A throwback low-post banger at 7-foot-1, Poeltl provides insurance at the No. 5 spot should playoff revelation Bismack Biyombo depart in free agency.
Thon MakerGetty Images10. Bucks
Thon Maker
PF, Australia
Wait, what? The first true bombshell of the night arrives with this mystery man no cracking the top 10: a Sudanese refugee who has lived in Australia and Canada, never went to college, has age questions (19, officially) and can handle and shoot at 7-foot-1.
11. Thunder (as part of trade with Magic)
Domantas Sabonis
PF, Gonzaga
Serge Ibaka moves to Orlando in a stunning swap engineered by OKC, which faces Kevin Durant’s free agency after falling just short of the Finals. Sabonis, with his NBA pedigree, is traded with Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova.
12. Hawks (as part of trade with Jazz)
Taurean Prince
SF, Baylor
Atlanta went the speculative route with a pick selected in Wednesday’s reported Jeff Teague three-team deal. Prince is a rugged 3-and-D prototype, but few projected him in the lottery.
13. Kings (as part of trade with Suns)
Georgios Papagiannis
C, Greece
Who? Could be a stash pick for Sacramento, which already has one of the league’s best centers in DeMarcus Cousins. The 18-year-old Greek prospect is an absolute load at 7-foot-2.
14. Bulls
Denzel Valentine
SG, Michigan State
Best case: He thrives like Draymond Green, another do-it-all four-year Spartan. Has point guard skills (with Derrick Rose gone) and small forward size, but red flags about his knees.
15. Nuggets
Juan Hernangomez
PF, Spain
The younger brother of Knicks prospect Willy, who’s expected to join NBA this season after being drafted in 2015. Nuggets have strong track record developing Euros.
16. Celtics
Guerschon Yabusele
PF, France
Gotta defer to ESPN international draft maven Fran Fraschilla on this one: “Used to call him a tweener, now he’s a smallball 4.” Likely stays in Europe to marinate for another year or two.
17. Grizzlies
Wade Baldwin IV
PG, Vanderbilt
With the kind of “length” (6-foot-4, 6-foot-10 wingspan) that makes the pundits drool and persistent attitude knocks, Baldwin’s insurance for free agent Mike Conley Jr.
18. Pistons
Henry Ellenson
PF, Marquette
Stan Van Gundy loves a big man (nearly 7 feet) who can step outside and shoot. Posted 17 and 10 as a Big East freshman.
19. Nuggets
Malik Beasley
SG, Florida State
Denver adds more firepower in the backcourt. Beasley draws praise for his shooting stroke and athleticism in transition — now he’s at altitude.
20. Nets (as part of trade with Pacers)
Caris LeVert
SG, Michigan
A smooth combo guard — when healthy. Sean Marks stakes the first pick of his regime to a former Big Ten stud who has been dogged by foot problems.
21. Hawks
DeAndre Bembry
SF, St. Joseph’s
Has an old man’s game on offense, good size (6-foot-6, 210), better intangibles and best hair. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer loves the versatility.
22. Kings (as part of trade with Hornets)
Malachi Richardson
SF, Syracuse
The breakout star of the Orange’s improbable run to the Final Four, Richardson showed he can score in a variety of ways.
23. Celtics
Ante Zizic
C, Croatia
Boston fans started the day dreaming of parlaying their bevy of picks into a star. Instead, they get another overseas prospect (rugged, 6-foot-11, 19 years old) who’s booed by default.
24. 76ers
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
SF, France
Luwawu’s a highlight-reel dunker, but will he come straight to the NBA? Sixers have wealth of young assets to sort out (remember Joel Embiid? Or fellow 2014 lottery pick Dario Saric?).
25. Clippers
Brice Johnson
PF, North Carolina
Slots as a backup behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The former Tar Heel’s pogo-stick rebounding is his best NBA attribute.
26. 76ers
Furkan Korkmaz
SF, Turkey
Jerry Colangelo continues his tour of the continents by tapping this skinny 18-year-old who could get good looks off Simmons’ outstanding vision.
27. Raptors
Pascal Siakam
PF, New Mexico State
Drew some “Tristan Thompson lite” comparisons in NBA circles, according to Draft Express, for his high motor and rebounding efficiency.
28. Kings (as part of trade with Suns)
Skal Labissiere
PF, Kentucky
Vlade Divac came to end the springy shot-blocker’s green-room agony before he slipped out of the first round entirely. The No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2015 floundered at college level.
29. Spurs
Dejounte Murray
PG, Washington
Touted as a late-lottery pick in some circles for his up-tempo skill set and slick ball-handling. Another Spurs steal? Just saying: Tony Parker was the No. 28 pick once upon a time.
30. Warriors
Damian Jones
C, Vanderbilt
Potential for some irony here: Festus Ezeli, a former Vanderbilt center drafted at No. 30, could be a cap casualty for the record-setting Dubs in free agency this summer.
