Jimmy Butler thought the C's were going to draft him, he loves playing in Boston

[rondohondo]

Draymond Green recently garnered some attention with his ability to list every player drafted ahead of him in 2012. Jimmy Butler may not be able to rattle off all the guys who went before him the previous year, but at least remembers who the Boston Celtics landed from that draft.

"JaJuan Johnson," the Chicago Bulls star recalled recently on the Bill Simmons podcast.

Butler ended up going to the Chicago Bulls at the end of the first round, but told Simmons he was surprised Boston didn't select him.

"What's crazy is I thought I was going to end up with y'all (the Celtics)," Butler said on the podcast. "Doc (Rivers) being from Marquette, I (was) ready. But I'm not mad. I went 30th to Chicago and it's a good place for me right now."

"

I always play well in TD Garden," Butler explained. "And then I like L.A. I've got a lot of friends out here, so I like to play in front of them because I'm always stuck in the harsh winters of Chicago."

A noted Celtics fan, Simmons brought up his favorite team on several occasions.

"Trust me, I get enough on my Instagram and Twitter about going to Boston," Butler said. "But the funniest part about it is everybody's like, 'Jimmy, don't leave Chicago.' I literally, I don't control that. It's not like I'm a free agent. I can't do anything about that. And so people get mad: 'Oh, we hate you. You want to leave.' I never once said that. There's absolutely nothing that I can do. Literally the only way is if I got traded."

Sounds like he would embrace playing for bos. I would give up the #3 and other pieces to get him.

[alldaboston]

he also sounded a little disappointed we didnt take him. i wonder if that leaves any bitter taste in his mouth.

[Smokeeye123]

Someone posted the podcast a few days ago. If you listen to it, the part where he says he loves playing in the TD Garden is very tongue in cheek and after Simmons has already brought up the celtics multiple times, discussed trades with him, and subtly recruited him. Simmons laughs when he says that and says something to the effect of "now you're just pulling my leg".

Not to say it's an outright lie and he doesn't like the T.D Garden, I just think it's important to put it in context.The part about thinking he was going to get drafted by the Celtics was legit though.

[Surferdad]

he also sounded a little disappointed we didnt take him. i wonder if that leaves any bitter taste in his mouth.

Ya think?  He has to hate the dis function going on there.

[Ogaju]

WHY DID we draft Juan Juan Johnson?

[myselfonline]

Technically, we picked Marshon Brooks.

[Denis998]

He also said he wasn't much of a good player coming out of college. Got drafted by playing hard, and good defense. Developed into the player he is now while in NBA.