No One (Except Philly) Wants to Trade With Danny

[max215]

The Boston Celtics have been pursuing a number of established veterans in the buildup to Thursday's NBA draft, offering trade packages built around the No. 3 overall pick, according to league sources.

But sources told ESPN that the Celtics, to date, have been rebuffed in their efforts to assemble a sufficiently enticing deal to acquire any of these four prime targets: Chicago Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward and Milwaukee Bucks teammates Jabari Parker or Khris Middleton.

Who the Celtics like at No. 3, if they end up keeping the pick, has likewise emerged as one of the bigger mysteries of draft week, sources say.


The Celtics continue to show interest in the Bulls' Jimmy Butler after also trying to trade for him before the deadline in February, sources say. The Bulls, sources say, continue to show little interest in dealing Butler to the Celtics, who previously tried to trade for Butler before the league's annual trade deadline in February.

Sources say the Celtics are one of just a number of teams trying to convince Utah to surrender Hayward -- Phoenix, which holds two lottery picks (No. 4 and 13) in Thursday's draft, is another -- but the Jazz have been telling interested teams that Hayward is not available.

The same, sources say, goes for Parker and Middleton in Milwaukee, since the Bucks regard both of those young cornerstones, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo, as untouchables.

The Philadelphia 76ers, sources say, have been trying for some time to convince the Celtics to part with the No. 3 pick in a deal headlined by Sixers big man Jahlil Okafor or teammate Nerlens Noel, but Boston, to date, has resisted those pitches.‎

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2016/story/_/id/16407161/boston-celtics-rebuffed-bid-swap-no-3-draft-pick-established-veteran

[Vox_Populi]

Oh, well. Just draft the best guy you can then.

[Chief Macho]

figures.  danny should just accept he's not winning with the vets on this roster and trade up and get younger. 

[jpotter33]

So basically expect Noel to be a Celtic on Thursday night lol

This is the price of Danny's shrewdness. He's won so many deals that many GM's simply don't want to trade with him many times unless it's an obvious win-win for them.

I still hold that Chicago should (and probably will) trade Butler, even if it isn't to the C's. They're losing their entire starting frontcourt this offseason, and they don't have the appeal or anything else to be a major player in free agency, not to mention the beef between Rose and Butler already. ESPN basically said the same thing in the draft show - it really doesn't make much sense with what will happen this summer.

Before taking a Noel trade, though, I'd engage Cleveland about Love. I'm not sure how I feel about using the #3 on Noel without knowing that we could possibly get another upgrade in our scoring department.

I think the Utah thing is obvious, too. I think we're frontrunners for Hayward next year anyways, but they're so close to making the playoffs that they're going all out for them. No need to waste assets getting him when we could just pay him next summer.

[Scintan]

(Since I'm bored tonight)

Hey, Danny, since you can't seem to get a veteran:

Get the #4 from Phoenix, without giving up Thomas, Bradley or Crowder
Trade the #4 to Philly for Noel/Okafor
Draft Bender at #3

That, at least theoretically, gives you scoring in the front court, scoring in the back court, an inside-out pairing up front, a versatile and active wing player, and an offense/defense pairing in the back. 

[Bobshot]

Sounds like ESPN's typically negative Boston pitch? I wonder who the source was that got them all that info from different teams? Maybe Ainge planted it.

The one interesting piece is Middleton being off limits for trading, which kills that rumor.

Looks like it's Okafor/Noel for Dunn. Not mentioned. Probably the best deal anyways.

Love was also not mentioned.

[alldaboston]

I like that it said we were resisting the Philly offers. I hope we don't take them. We can do better.

Maybe it's all smokescreen.

[jpotter33]

And as for the Middleton being "untouchable" deal, I called that earlier. It's long been reported that they irrationally love Middleton just as much as Parker and Giannis. And while he's a good player, I don't think he's on the level/ceiling that the other two have, and they're all CLEARLY not a good fit together.

This will come back to bite them in the arse, especially if Dunn turns out to be a pretty good player. Him and Bradley would be absolute perfect fits in Milwaukee, yet since they're irrationally attached to their players who aren't great fits together, they're going to stay on the treadmill.

[Scintan]

We can do better.

If the article is true, they apparently can not do better.

[Bobshot]

I think it's possible Ainge will draft Dunn at #3 and trade Bradley and the 16 to the Cavs for Love.
 
At least, that's his leverage for holding out for Noel.

[flybono]

If the Sixers are on the phone, does Noel and Saric get it done for the #3 ?

[alldaboston]

We can do better.

If the article is true, they apparently can not do better.

I think it's a giant smokescreen. Maybe there's a hidden deal here or something.

[hpantazo]

After what Ainge did to Billy King and the Nets, and to Cuban and the Mavs, can you blame other GMs from being afraid to deal with him?

Luckily agents have signifiant influence as well, and Ainge has built solid relationships with most of the agents, so there will be options this offseason to get a star or two.

[dannyboy35]

But giving Cleveland Bradley at this stage of everyone's career would widen the gap between the celts and cavs. I don't get us trading with the cavs. I'd get it if Love was years younger.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I'd much rather have Okafor then Noel.

Nerlens has almost zero Basketball skills...Okafor is lethal in the paint on offense at least....We can find another defender, but Okafor is 20 and might be the best low-post player in the league.