NEW YORK — Roughly 32 hours before the NBA draft, most of the projected lottery picks ran the media gauntlet in a ballroom at a downtown Manhattan hotel.

Not surprisingly, the crowds around Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, the consensus top-two picks, dwarfed those of the other participants.

Fultz made it seem like landing in Philadelphia (seen as a certainty once the Celtics-Sixers deal was completed) might have been pre-destined.

“Actually, I’ve been saying Trust the Process (the Sixers tagline for their years-long rebuild), I didn’t even know about Philly,” Fultz said,

“Me, I got cut from (junior varsity in high school). So the big thing we used to say back home was, Trust the Process, not transferring schools. I didn’t know about the saying Trust the Process with Philly until probably my senior year when I was watching basketball and seeing the tweets about it. I thought I came up with it at first.”

Ball, the jumbo-sized UCLA point guard who will learn from the best tall point guard of them all, Magic Johnson, if he goes to the Lakers, answered as many questions about his father as he did about his game.

How many times has he been asked about the outlandish things his outspoken pops, LaVar Ball says and how that has impacted how teams feel about him?

“I don’t know. Too many times,” the younger Ball said with a smile.

Is he worried all of the chatter will make his life in the NBA tougher?

“It’s probably (putting a) target on me, but I don’t really care about it,” he said.

Ball seems to have a good handle on things, despite the circus-like atmosphere around him. He is relaxed on the court and he says he can thank his dad for that.

“He always told me that basketball is a game, it’s supposed to be fun, it’s just a game and pressure is not that, it’s like, life stuff, like coming home, the lights is off, you don’t have food on the table.”

MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE

The Raptors don’t have the luxury of a lottery pick this year (they selected Jakob Poeltl ninth overall in 2016 and Pascal Siakam 27th). The team currently holds the 23rd selection, but many of the players that appear to have piqued the interest of president Masai Ujiri and Co. could be off the board, if mock drafts hold.

UCLA’s front-court visited Toronto and met with team brass. Centre Ike Anigbogu, one of the younger players in the draft and someone who has drawn comparisons to Bismack Biyombo, interviewed, but did not work out.

Sharp-shooting power forward T.J. Leaf went through the full workout process. Sources say the team is particularly intrigued by Anigbogu, who has a wingspan measured at greater than 7-6, but he might not still be around at that point.

Indiana sophomore OG Anunoby, who is recovering from an injury, which kept him from doing drills for anybody, was recently in town for a meeting.

“I liked them a lot, it’s a really good organization, it’s a good team,” Anunoby told Postmedia.

“They were saying they saw me as becoming (more advanced) from where I am now, that they liked me and stuff like that.”

Anunoby said it was “definitely attractive” that Toronto has been able to balance being a top team in the East with developing young talent.

Leaf concurred.

“It’s a very good spot, obviously. Very successful organization, playoffs every year and making runs,” Leaf said.

“That in itself is appealing because they’re winners and that’s what I like. It was very good, the organization is great, the practice facility is amazing.”

Still, if Ujiri indeed has mutual interest with any of these players, he might have to move up to get one of them.

The team believes Serge Ibaka will re-sign, which makes Jonas Valanciunas expendable if value can be attained.

FINNISH BOMBER

Lauri Markkanen is one of the more intriguing players in this draft. He’s a 7-footer from Vantaa, Finland, a place more known for producing hockey players like Sami Kapanen (father of Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen), Valtteri Filppula, Tuomo Ruutu and Antti Niemi.

But Markkanen’s father played hoops for the national team and at Kansas, and he says it’s always been basketball for him because it’s the most fun to play.

That said, he dabbled in soccer, and, of course, hockey, with his pals.

Wasn’t it hard to find equipment in his size?

“I wasn’t tall (back then),” Markkanen said. A significant growth spurt after he had learned how to play like a guard is the reason he can handle the ball and shoot it so well.

AROUND THE RIM

Ball, Anigbogu and Leaf definitely developed a bond while with the Bruins. “Ike is great, he’s one of my best friends,” Leaf said. “He’s an extremely hard worker and he’s a joy to play with.” Ball said “UCLA kind of combined us forever now, so they’re like my brothers to me, and I just wish the best for them.” … How do you not feel old when Gonzaga’s Zach Collins says this: “My favourite player has been LeBron my whole life.” James was the No. 1 pick way back in 2003.