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NBA Trade Grades: Boston Celtics deal No. 1 pick to Philadelphia 76ers

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) helps with warms as he would sit out the game against the Washington State Cougars at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) helps with warms as he would sit out the game against the Washington State Cougars at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Grades
Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia 76ers

Sam Hinkie died for the Philadelphia 76ers’ sins, and the blessings are still raining down years after his sacrifice made him a martyr. The roller coaster ride of trusting the Process has rarely reached this kind of full-tilt exhilaration.

The Sixers could have easily found a franchise pillar at No. 3, with players like Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum and De’Aaron Fox expected to be available.

By trading up to No. 1 though, they will snag the surest thing in the draft, pairing him with a tantalizing young core that could rule the East for a decade if it reaches its projected ceiling (and stays healthy).

Now, this is not a perfect deal for Philly. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons both have to stay healthy for this perfect picture to come together, so with Embiid missing all but 31 games in his first three years in the league, plus Simmons missing his entire rookie season, they’re not off to the most promising start.

However, there’s a decent chance that valuable 2018 Lakers pick that Philly had in its back pocket will stay with the Sixers, and even if it does, sending the Sacramento first-rounder in 2019 doesn’t feel like something that will come back to bite this team anyway.

The time is now to start putting all those talented first-rounders on the court together, and neither pick was intrinsic to the Process.

By not having to send both, the Sixers avoided making a Godfather offer to outbid other teams. They’ll get to pair Fultz, a guard who can make plays with the ball or shoot well playing off the ball, with Simmons’ passing ability and Embiid’s undeniable superstar talent.

Throw in Dario Saric, their own pick in 2018 and either the Lakers’ 2018 selection or the Kings’ 2019 selection and the Sixers have one of the most promising young cores in the NBA.

Even better, they’re well structured from a salary cap standpoint as free agency approaches:

This deal does place an inordinate amount of pressure on Markelle Fultz to be a superstar, but that probably would’ve been true no matter where he went; that’s simply what’s expected of No. 1 overall picks.

The Philadelphia 76ers have to stay healthy for this all to come together, but that could be said of any team with a young core. By only sending the No. 3 pick and a future first-rounder that might not even be all that valuable, they’re making a power move to put the rest of the East on notice.

Hinkie, you are the gift that keeps on giving.

Considering the Sixers got the No. 3 pick in the first place thanks to pick swapping rights in Hinkie’s salary dump deal with the Kings, this trade feels like a home run.

Next: Celtics - 5 options for pick No. 3 in 2017 NBA Draft

Grade: A-

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