2017 NBA Draft Lottery results: Sixers awarded the third overall pick

After entering the evening with the fourth best lottery odds, the Philadelphia 76ers walked away with the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft via PICK SWAPS with the Kings.

The Los Angeles Lakers, whose pick the Sixers owned if it were to fall outside of the top three, earned the 2nd overall pick. Philadelphia will now own the Lakers’ unprotected pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Overall, it wasn’t the most exciting of evenings, but Philadelphia moving up one slot in a solid consolation prize. Los Angeles having a better pick than the Sixers will certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth, however.

The Sixers are in a pretty interesting spot here. Basic logic would tell you to take whoever is left of Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson, but Duke’s Jayson Tatum could very easily work his way into that conversation. Hell, maybe you ever consider a guy like Florida States’ Jonathan Isaac or Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox.

It’s not an optimal position, but the Sixers can still very easily come away with a really good player to add to their young core.

Here’s the final lottery order after Tuesday night’s event:

1. Boston Celtics

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Phoenix Suns

5. Sacramento Kings

6. Orlando Magic

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

8. New York Knicks

9. Dallas Mavericks

10. Sacramento Kings

11. Charlotte Hornets

12. Detroit Pistons

13. Denver Nuggets

14. Miami Heat

We’ll talk more about what this means for the Sixers tomorrow morning.