Community Shootaround: Draft Night

Everyone knew the Sixers were taking Ben Simmons at No. 1. Everyone knew the Lakers were taking Brandon Ingram at No. 2. Then things got interesting.

The Celtics had several suitors who wanted Kris Dunn with the third pick. Co-owner Wyc Grousbeck called the offers “rip-off attempts” and said the team never came close to a deal. So they kept the pick and took Jaylen Brown. The Suns, in need of a power forward, had trouble deciding between Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. So they swung a deal for the Kings’ eighth pick and took both.

Dunn, who was wanted so badly by the Sixers and Bulls, fell to the Wolves at No. 5. The Pelicans got a sweet shooter to possibly replace Eric Gordon, landing Buddy Hield at No. 6. The Nuggets finished building their backcourt of the future, grabbing Jamal Murray at No. 7 to team with last year’s rookie sensation, Emmanuel Mudiay.

It was a night of surprises, trades, non-trades and three big sliders in Skal LabissiereDeyonta Davis and DeJounte Murray. It was a draft rich in international prospects and draft-and-stash projects. It was a draft owned by the Celtics, Sixers, Nuggets, Suns and Raptors, who controlled 14 of the 30 picks in the first round. It was a four-hour marathon from pick 1 to pick 30, and the full impact won’t be known for several years.

But we want to know your opinion now: What were the best and worst picks of the first round? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

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