The Boston Celtics are stocked with assets. General manager Danny Ainge has collected a bevy of young players and draft picks. As such, the Celtics have become the go-to with rumors about trade scenarios.
After the trade deadline, a report came out claiming that the Celtics were close to trading for an impact player before talks broke through. One rumor linked the team to Sixers’ rookie Jahlil Okafor.
But according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, the Celtics had their sights set on a bigger target: Bulls’ shooting guard Jimmy Butler.
One of those stars whose profile intrigued the Celtics didn’t get to play in that game because of a strained knee. It’s been said that Chicago’s Jimmy Butler would be a good fit here, but multiple sources are telling the Herald that the Celts did, in fact, make a strong move for the 6-foot-7 wing.
According to one source that had at least one player who could have been involved in the potential transaction, the Celtics were willing to give up two first-round draft picks this year — the unprotected pick from the Nets and Dallas’ choice, which is protected 1-through-7.
There are differing reports on what players were offered, requested and denied and how far the talks got, but the bottom line is that there was no fit for the Celtics and Bulls at this time.
This is a very interesting trade scenario. The Celtics would be giving up their most valuable asset, a likely top-three pick from Brooklyn, along with several lesser assets to gain a star. With the team feeling it could make some noise with just one impactful addition to the roster, the trade would make sense. According to Bulpett, Indiana Pacers’ forward Paul George was another target for Ainge.
The Bulls, meanwhile, seem to have been unwilling to move on from their best player.
Per that Boston Herald report that the Celtics targeted Jimmy Butler, told offer was of lowball variety and talks didn't advance.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 3, 2016
This makes sense, of course, as Butler is the clear best player in Chicago. It would take a monster offer to get him away from the Bulls and unfortunately for the Celtics, unknown possibilities in draft picks are just not enough.
So, it is fair to assume that the trade offer was made as it would be a sensible trade idea for the Celtics. Meanwhile, it is also fair to consider it a somewhat laughable offer from the Bulls’ perspective as they would require a whole lot more in order to move their star.
