When the Sixers upgraded their pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, going from #3 to #1 to select Markelle Fultz, an asset with high potential value given to the Celtics in the swap was the Kings’ 2019 1st round pick (or the Sixers 2019 1st round pick if it is higher than the Kings’ pick). Though the Kings’ pick is currently expected to be in the top half of the lottery, in the moment, pulling the trigger on the deal was an easy pill to swallow for Philly for a few reasons: Markelle Fultz was the consensus #1 pick and the perfect archetype to play alongside Ben Simmons, and the Sixers were able to place a protection on the Kings’ pick which stipulated that the Sixers would retain the Kings’ pick OR their own pick if either ended up as the #1 selection.
What you need to know about the Sacramento Kings’ 2019 first round pick
