Top two NBA picks appear set; Bulls trade Rose to Knicks – STLtoday.com
NEW YORK • While the first two picks in Thursday’s NBA draft are essentially locked in, where the drama should start to unfold is pick No. 3.
With Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram looking to go No. 1 and No. 2 overall, the Boston Celtics will have a variety of options with the third pick in the draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“The Celtics control the draft right now,” ESPN’s Chad Ford said. “I think we know Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are going one and two. If they don’t go one and two it’s because Ingram went one and Simmons went two and so with the Celtics we got this interesting, challenging scenario.”
There are several candidates who could be selected third overall, including Jaylen Brown (California), Kris Dunn (Providence) and Dragan Bender (Croatia) .
There’s always some uncertainty going into the draft, forcing players so close to realizing their dreams to be patient.
“It’s driving me crazy actually,” said an anxious Brown.
In addition to the No. 3 pick — if the Celtics decide not to trade it — Boston has two other first-round draft picks, and a total of eight on the night.
KNICKS GET ROSE
in trade with BULLS
The New York Knicks acquired Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, hoping the former NBA MVP can be their answer at point guard.
The Knicks sent center Robin Lopez and guards Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant to the Bulls in the deal. New York also received guard Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick, and waived point guard Tony Wroten.
New coach Jeff Hornacek said recently the Knicks needed a point guard and Rose was one of the NBA’s best before multiple knee injuries slowed the former No. 1 pick’s career. He played in 66 games last season, his most in five years, and averaged 16.4 points.
“This is an exciting day for New York and our fans,” Hornacek said in a statement. “Derrick is one of the top point guards in the NBA who is playoff battle-tested. He adds a whole new dynamic to our roster and immediately elevates our backcourt.”
After missing the playoffs in a disappointing first season under Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls decided to move on without the hometown kid they selected with the top pick in the 2008 draft.
It seemed a perfect fit when Rose led the Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference in the 2010-11 regular season, earning MVP honors and leading the franchise to success it hadn’t enjoyed since Michael Jordan.
But he wrecked his knee for the first time in the playoffs the following year and no longer has the speed that once made him one of the league’s most dazzling young stars and a seemingly perennial All-Star.
Rose hasn’t been back to the All-Star Game since 2012 and has often had trouble just playing in the real games. He sat out all of the 2012-13 season, made it back for 10 games in 2013-14 and appeared in a little more than half the Bulls’ games in 2014-15.
The veteran Calderon and Grant, a first-round pick last year, were on the roster of a team that started well but faltered badly in the second half on the way to a 32-50 season. Rose is expected to be an upgrade as the team transitions from the triangle offense to a quicker attack under Hornacek.
PACERS PICK UP TEAGUE
The Indiana Pacers traded one Indianapolis native for another Wednesday — sending George Hill to Utah and acquiring Jeff Teague in a three-team swap that also includes Atlanta.
Atlanta receives the No. 12 overall pick in Thursday night’s draft.
In Teague, Indiana gets the true point guard it has long wanted. Hill adds defense and depth to a spot that could be in flux for the Jazz if point guard Dante Exum comes back slower than from a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2015-16 season.
Hill and Teague both have one year left on their current deals and each is scheduled to make $8 million this season.
