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NBA Draft Notes: Celtics' Ainge Bets Big On Tatum After Not Making Trade

WBZ-FM's Tony Massarotti writes under the header, "Danny Ainge Stakes Reputation On Jayson Tatum." Tatum, whom the Celtics took at No. 3 in Thursday's NBA Draft, is the player the team "would not sacrifice in a number of trade scenarios." Ainge is "going to need his shoes if Tatum does not meet expectations because the Celtics president of basketball operations will find himself in quite a pile." The Celtics did not make a trade after being linked to Jimmy Butler, Paul George and Kristaps Porzingis, and the only cost Ainge "proved willing to pay may have come with the greatest price tag of all. His reputation" (BOSTON.CBSLOCAL.com, 6/23). 

MAGIC ACT: The Magic on Thursday drafted Florida State F Jonathan Isaac with the sixth overall pick, and in Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes he now "must become a superstar and the face of the franchise and lead a terrible team into the playoffs sooner rather than later." Isaac is a "symbol of hope and change for a frustrated fan base and a new management team." For the thousands of approving Magic fans at the team’s Draft party at Amway Center, he "at least gave them something to cheer about for one night." New Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman "isn't selling false hope." He knows the Magic are "facing yet another long rebuild." He also knows that if the Magic are going to "clean up the mess, it's going to be through the draft" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/23).

BALL IS LIFE: In California, Bill Oram writes Lakers fans "will be behind" second overall selection UCLA G Lonzo Ball. Ever since the Steve Nash-Dwight Howard-Kobe Bryant "super-team" failed, fans have "thirsted for something to get behind." There is a "bigger plan at play here, as the Lakers stockpile assets and financial flexibility to chase superstars" like George, whose agent has "made it clear the Palmdale native wants to come home." In another year, they will "pursue the ultimate trophy in NBA free agent big-game hunting," Cavaliers F LeBron James (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/23).

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