ESPN panel would take Jayson Tatum as No. 1 pick over in draft re-do

A panel of ESPN experts say that they would draft Jayson Tatum No. 1 overall if they could re-do the draft from earlier this year.

Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics made a controversial move in the summer by trading the No. 1 overall pick – and the chance to draft consensus top prospect Markelle Fultz – to go down to No. 3, where they selected Jayson Tatum.

Just one month into the regular season, though, and ESPN Forecast’s panel of experts is ready to pick Tatum No. 1 overall in a draft re-do.

A resounding 73.7 percent of experts voted to take Tatum with the top pick. Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball, who went No. 2, also finished second with 15.6 percent of the votes.

The actual No. 1 overall pick, Fultz, is nowhere on the list as he’s been sidelined for much of the season due to a mysterious shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Ball has struggled mightily in terms of scoring, averaging just 9.0 points on 30 percent shooting.

On the flipside, Tatum has been a key contributor on a Celtics team that currently owns the best record in the NBA. The 19-year-old has stepped up to the plate in the absence of Gordon Hayward, averaging 14 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 49 percent on 3-pointers.

Ainge insisted after the draft that he would’ve taken Tatum No. 1 overall, and he’s quickly being justified for what’s turning into another terrific move on his part.