76Ers Take Ben Simmons with No 1 Pick in Draft
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SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016 Celtics resist overtures, pick Jaylen Brown with third pick BOSTON: With little mystery surrounding how Celtics’ co-owner Grousbeck said after every day. “But I’m glad to be here, and I think ing Guerschon Yabusele at No 16 and Croatian the first two picks would go in Thursday’s NBA Brown was selected. “That’s just the way it is. If it’s the right fit.” 6-11 center Ante Zizic at No 23. In the second draft, there was much anticipation surrounding they were close, we might have stretched. We Brown, a 6-foot-7 forward out of California, round Boston selected former Michigan State what could happen when the Celtics went on didn’t feel anything was close and we’d give averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per forward Deyonte Davis and Serbian swingman the clock at No 3. It turned out to be pretty sim- counter offers and the other side didn’t feel it game en route to being named Pac-12 Rade Zagorac with the 31st and 35th picks. It ple. Despite receiving a lot of interest from was close.” Brown worked out twice for the Freshman of the Year. He also has a reputation then added former Notre Dame point guard teams looking to trade into the slot, in the end Celtics leading up to the draft, but said the pick as an elite defender, which could be a good fit Demetrius Jackson at No 45, former Providence the offers they received weren’t strong enough still took him by surprise. with Boston’s defensive culture. Boston entered forward Ben Bentil at No 51 and former Iowa to take. So Celtics president of basketball opera- “I had no idea, I promise you I had no idea,” the night with eight total picks, the most picks State forward Abdel Nader at No 58. The 20- tions Danny Ainge picked California freshman Brown said from New York. “I was actually the Celtics have had since 1987. Before this year, year-old Yabusele is a 6-7 stretch forward out of Jaylen Brown, sticking with his promise to select sweating bullets when the final seconds came it had a top-three pick only three times since the France with paint presence at 260 pounds, while the best available player. “We weren’t even in. But I knew they were heavily interested common draft era began in 1966. the 19-year-old Zizic is a throwback big man at close to any of the offers that came in. None of when they asked me to come back for a sec- They added a pair of international players 6-11. It is possible both could be stashed in them were even in the mix,” ond workout. But you hear different things with their remaining two first-round picks, tak- Europe for a few years to develop. 76ers take Ben Simmons LeBron out, with No 1 pick in draft Carmelo in for NEW YORK: Ben Simmons went from record of 21 set in 2003. Some of the inter- points as the ACC freshman of the year. He US team at Rio Down Under to the top of the NBA draft, national players won’t come to the NBA is the latest young player on a team that NEW YORK: LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star and a record number of international play- next season, and perhaps never will. will begin life without the retired Kobe lineup of talent Thursday that will not play for the United ers followed. The Philadelphia 76ers took Simmons might be ready to star now. Bryant next season. “I’m just going to be States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin the Australian with the No 1 pick on Philadelphia grabbed the versatile 6-foot- myself,” Ingram said. “Whatever I can do to Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive Thursday night, making him the first of a 10 forward from LSU who averaged 19.2 impact the game, whatever the coach gold medal. A flurry of reports ahead of next week’s record 14 international players chosen in points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists to needs me to do, I’m going to do it.” announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped the first round. Nearly half the selections in become the only player in Southeastern when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball the 30-pick round were international play- Conference history to finish in the top five Busy night managing director Jerry Colangelo and Coach Mike ers, topping the 12 international players in all three categories. The Boston Celtics then began a busy Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. “I could use the chosen in the first round in 2013. Simmons He comes with some questions - he night by picking California forward Jaylen rest,” James told the website. climbed on stage to the sound of cheers made only one 3-pointer - but too much Brown. Boston had eight picks in the two- James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest- from a Philly-filled crowd hoping he could potential for the 76ers to pass up with round draft, starting with one it acquired ever NBA Finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State turn around the 76ers. Not long after the their first No 1 pick since taking Allen from Brooklyn in 2013 in the deal that sent Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court same crowd was largely quiet as the draft Iverson 20 years ago. “It feels amazing, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets. time through six consecutive trips to the finals. NBA Most filled with unfamiliar names. honestly,” Simmons said. “I can’t even - my Bender ended the run of three straight Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden The picks included the first Austrian legs were shaking when I was on stage.” freshmen when the Suns selected the 7-1 State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio. Star forward who has been playing profession- guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the ally for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston also have Milwaukee rounded out the top 10 backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward with Thon Maker, originally from South LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers Sudan, and Orlando followed with forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans. Domantas Sabonis, whose rights were Joining that group Thursday were Portland’s Damian quickly dealt to Oklahoma City along with Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fascitis injury; Utah Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova for for- forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi ward Serge Ibaka. The Minnesota Leonard. “This was a very difficult decision. Leonard said. “It’s Timberwolves used the No 5 pick on an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope in Providence junior Kris Dunn, a two-time the future I will have the chance to represent my country.” “I Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East have withdrawn my name from consideration due to family who should fit nicely for new coach Tom obligations,” Hayward said. “My wife Robyn and I are blessed Thibodeau. to be expecting our second child this summer.” A couple of the draft’s best shooters The pullout brings back memories of 2004, when security went next, with New Orleans grabbing All- worries were a concern in the Athens run-up and many top American Hield from Oklahoma, and names withdrew. Those who played could only muster Denver picking Kentucky freshman Jamal bronze. The roster to be named next week by USA Basketball Murray at No 7. Michigan State’s Denzel is expected to include Oklahoma City star Durant and New Valentine, the Associated Press Player of York playmaker Anthony plus Indiana’s Paul George, Golden the Year, went 14th to Chicago to close the State’s Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento’s lottery. But that was a rare well-known DeMarcus Cousins, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, the Clippers’ name to the crowd at the time, as DeAndre Jordan and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and DeMar NEW YORK: Ben Simmons poses with Commissioner Adam Silver after Papagiannis went 13th to Phoenix - climb- DeRozan. ing out of a crowd in the stands near the being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round concourse level surrounded by Greek flags Irving still might go of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the - with Spain’s Juan Hernangomez going Brooklyn borough of New York City. —AP Two other available spots could include Cleveland star 15th to Denver, and Boston selecting guard Kyrie Irving, who played a key role alongside James in Guerschon Yabusele of France at No 16. bringing the first sports title to Cleveland since 1964. James (Utah center Jakob Poeltl, No 9 to Philadelphia fans who made the trip to Even they seemed surprised to hear sparked a Cleveland rally from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-sev- Toronto), the highest Greek player ever Brooklyn’s Barclays Center loudly cheered their names called by NBA Commissioner en final to a stunning seventh-game triumph for the NBA drafted (Georgios Papagiannis, No 13, the selection in hopes that Simmons can Adam Silver. “Nobody was expecting,” crown. James was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Phoenix, rights dealt to Sacramento), two help them move forward after three Yabusele said.