Markelle Fultz to 76ers, Lonzo Ball to Lakers Top Chad Ford's 7th NBA Mock Draft

The NBA draft is quickly approaching, but one major trade has created some changes at the top of the class.

The Boston Celtics agreed to trade the No. 1 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 3 pick and future assets, per ESPN. All of a sudden, the projected top player in Markelle Fultz looks like he is heading to a new team, and the rest of the draft needs to accommodate. 

According to ESPN's Chad Ford's latest mock draft, Fultz will remain the No. 1 overall pick to the 76ers, while Lonzo Ball stays at No. 2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The change comes with Josh Jackson becoming the No. 3 to the Celtics.

Here is a breakdown of some of the more notable picks from the expert's latest mock.

Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz

Fultz could have helped the Celtics as someone who can play on or off the ball. After averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a freshman at Washington, it's clear he can make an impact in a lot of ways.

However, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe provided a reasoning for the recent trade:

With Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley already starting at the guard spots and Marcus Smart also proving useful, adding another player at the same position isn't quite as necessary.

Fultz is a much better fit with the 76ers, a squad that has spent early picks on big men in recent years but needs a lot of help in the backcourt. He can both run the offense and defend opposing point guards, providing some useful balance on this roster.

Even if last year's pick, Ben Simmons, plays some point guard, Fultz will still be valuable in other ways. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Lakers haven't quite guaranteed Ball will end up with the team, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Still, it would be a significant surprise if he wasn't taken No. 2 overall.

Per ESPN, the UCLA point guard had a second workout with Los Angeles this week, attempting to answer any lingering questions the squad might have. He even displayed his training schedules after doubts about his conditioning arose in the first workout.

Ball is one of the best true point guards to come out of college in years, leading college basketball with 7.6 assists per game last season. He was the catalyst behind one of the top offenses in the country.

The Lakers already have a lot of young talent on the roster, but the California native has the ability to get the most out of the people around him.

Considering he is also arguably the biggest name in the class, this selection will only help add excitement to a franchise in need of a boost.

Boston Celtics: Josh Jackson

Moving away from the No. 1 pick is always risky, but the Celtics could end up with a great player in Josh Jackson if everything goes well.

Jackson is a versatile wing who knows how to score when either attacking the basket or knocking down shots from the perimeter (37.8 percent shooting from three-point range last year). He has good athleticism at 6'8" that will allow him to remain a consistent threat at the next level.

The former Kansas player also showed in his freshman season the ability to fit in with a winning team. He is an excellent passer for his size and is an elite defender who can match up against multiple positions. This makes him a perfect addition for a ready-made contender that was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.

While he might not put up huge numbers in his first year, he might be the most valuable rookie in the class.

Although no one wants to select a role player with one of the first few picks of the draft, Jackson's upside remains high. Even if he takes on a secondary spot in the rotation in his first season, the talented player could still be a star down the line.