February 07, 2019
The NBA held its All-Star Draft for this year’s All-Star Game in Charlotte on Thursday night, just hours after the league’s trade deadline madness.
The Sixers’ pair of All-Stars — second-timer Joel Embiid and first-timer Ben Simmons — were initially on the same team, Team Giannis, which seemed fitting since LeBron spurned the Sixers this summer. But, as it turns out, that won't be the case.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo took LeBron's heir with the 13th pick, the King had some words for the Bucks star:
Giannis picks Ben Simmons as his third reserve (fifth reserve overall).
— adam (@SixersAdam) February 8, 2019
LeBron: “shit! he took my pick!”
Following the completion of the draft, LeBron made a move (which is a thing they can do?) and traded Russell Westbrook for Simmons, essentially swapping walking triple-doubles:
🚨 We have a trade 🚨
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2019
Bron trades Russ to Team Giannis for Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/LvRx61oanP
And now, Simmons and Embiid will face off against each other in the Feb. 17 game. Here's what the Sixers center thought of his teammate being traded for Russ...
Ok....... pic.twitter.com/CCpzig8mxC
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) February 8, 2019
One more take: putting Giannis and Joel Embiid, the fourth-overall pick, on the same team probably breaks some sort of Basketball Geneva Conventions with regards to collective wingspans. It's nuts.
Here’s a look at the full rosters for each side (with the order of the picks in parentheses):
STARTERS
• LeBron James (c)
• Kevin Durant (1)
• Kyrie Irving (3)
• Kawhi Leonard (5)
• James Harden (7)
BENCH
• Anthony Davis (10)
• Klay Thompson (12)
• Damian Lillard (14)
• Ben Simmons (13, via trade)
• LaMarcus Aldridge (18)
• Karl Anthony-Towns (20)
• Bradley Beal (22)
OLD GUY
• Dwyane Wade (23)
STARTERS
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (c)
• Steph Curry (2)
• Joel Embiid (4)
• Paul George (6)
• Kemba Walker (8)
BENCH
• Khris Middleton (9)
• Nikola Jokic (11)
• Russell Westbrook (16, via trade)
• Blake Griffin (15)
• DeAngelo Russell (17)
• Nikola Vucevic (19)
• Kyle Lowry (21)
OLD GUY
• Dirk Nowitzki (24)
Now that teams are set... who are you taking?
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