NBA NEWS

NBA News: 76ers, Celtics trade top picks

The Sports Xchange

June 17, 2017 at 11:56 pm.

Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) guard each other during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Photo Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) guard each other during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Photo Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

After working out for the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday, Markelle Fultz said he wanted to get some cheesesteaks.

By next week, Fultz might have plenty of time to get the sandwiches as a member of the 76ers.

The 76ers reportedly agreed on a trade with the Boston Celtics Saturday night that involves multiple draft picks.

“I’m definitely going to get some cheesesteaks from somewhere,” Fultz said after working out for the 76ers. “I have to get a cheesesteak. I’m big on that.”

Multiple outlets reported the deal will happen and once it becomes official, the 76ers intend to use the pick on Fultz at Thursday’s draft at Barclays Center.

The deal is expected to be announced Monday since the league offices are closed on weekends.

In 2015-16, the Sixers won 10 games and used Ben Simmons with the top overall pick. Simmons was the first No. 1 pick for the Sixers since Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 1996 and he missed the season as Philadelphia improved its win total to 28.

According to reports, the Sixers are expected to give up the No. 3 pick, the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick in 2018 and possibly another future first-round pick. That pick could be a protected pick in 2021.

The former Washington guard has been the consensus No. 1 overall pick in many mock drafts and worked out for the 76ers Saturday. The workout in Philadelphia occurred instead of a previously scheduled meeting with the Celtics.

Fultz worked out at the team’s practice site in Camden, New Jersey, and hours before the workout, the buzz was building. Joel Embiid, who maintains an active presence on social media tweeted out a picture of himself and teammate Dario Saric standing in front of a locker with a Fultz’s name plate.

“He and I have been talking before when I was in college,” Fultz said. “He’s a cool guy. He’s giving me tips and pointers and he’s pretty funny, so when I saw that it was pretty cool and pretty funny. I’m pretty happy that the players here want me to come here.”

When Fultz arrived from his home in Maryland at the facility, he was wearing a black 76ers hat and there was an overflow media crowd taking pictures. Fultz also posed for pictures with Embiid, Simmons and Robert Covington.

The Celtics own the pick from their 2013 deal that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets. They are set at point guard with Isaiah Thomas and are reportedly interested in drafting Kansas forward Josh Jackson if the pick does not get traded.

Before Friday, it was likely Fultz was going to be a Celtic. Reports began surfacing about a potential deal and rumors surfaced that the Atlantic Division teams were already in advanced talks for a deal.

In his only season with Washington, Fultz averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists. He shot 47.6 percent, averaged along with 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals over 25 games during his freshman season with the Huskies, who posted a 9-22 record.

His rise to likely being the top overall pick at the upcoming draft is occurring three years after Fultz was playing on his high school’s junior varsity’s team.

Last season, he led the Pac-12 in scoring, was sixth among Division I players and the most prolific freshman scorer in the country.

His scoring average is the third highest among freshmen in the last 10 seasons. Only Kevin Durant for Texas in 2006-07 and Michael Beasley for Kansas State in 2007-08 were better and they were No. 2 picks in their respective draft classes.