The 2017 NBA draft is a big “what if?” The draft class was stacked and the Celtics pulled off a heist by taking Jayson Tatum at no.3.
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Imagine being able to trade down and still get the best player in a draft class? How often does that happen? Not a lot we suppose.
The biggest example in front of us is how the Boston Celtics gave up the no.1 pick and still managed to draft superstar Jayson Tatum.
The 2017 NBA draft included some stars, Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo were notably drafted late. The biggest “what if?” is still the reason why the Lakers opted for Lonzo Ball over Jayson Tatum.
There is also the fact that the 76ers traded their third pick and go no.1 to take Markelle Fultz. The shooting guard is currently playing as a bench option for the Orlando Magic.
How did the Lakers and 76ers both lose out on a superstar like Jayson Tatum?
The answer is quite simple. Media bias. At the time, it was believed that Fultz had a game that would be eerily similar to one of James Harden. The drive and the shooting were both reminiscent of the former NBA MVP.
How and why Markelle Fultz’s game never translated to the NBA is still a mystery. The second consensus pick at the time was Lonzo Ball, a versatile pass-first point guard.
The Lakers desperately needed someone to fill that role and they already had the second pick. Jayson Tatum was the projected third pick, a wing player with a wide skillset.
Danny Ainge knew that Jayson was the most NBA-ready player in the draft. His instincts proved right. Tatum is now one of the best players in the league.
