The center of attention shifts from the NBA Finals to the 2016 NBA Draft on Thursday. The Philadelphia 76ers will pick first and the Los Angeles Lakers will choose next as teams around the league bolster their future rosters with young stars from around the country and globe.
NBA Draft 2016: Time, TV schedule and more
All the information you need to watch the 2016 NBA Draft.
Top prospects Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram lead the 2016 draft class, but veteran college players like Buddy Hield, Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine and foreigners like Dragan Bender strengthen what is viewed as a stock of picks that's inferior to last year's -- with players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis having breakout rookie seasons, it's easy to see why.
The 76ers, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets will dominate the first round with three picks each. The 76ers choose first, 24th and 26th; the Celtics pick third, 16th and 23rd; the the Nuggets choose seventh, 15th and 19th. The Toronto Raptors, who took the Cleveland Cavaliers to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, will pick ninth and 27th with a chance to add to their already impressive roster.
This year’s draft should be filled with drama. Will the 76ers choose Simmons or Ingram with the first pick? Will the Lakers somehow pick someone over whoever the 76ers don’t nab? After the top two, who’s next in line in a draft class filled with solid, if not foolproof, players?
How to watch the NBA Draft
Date: Thursday, June 23
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Place: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
TV: ESPN
Online: WatchESPN
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