Celtics

Celtics rumor roundup: Paul George trade talk got ‘serious,’ then ‘stalled’

Indiana Pacers' Paul George in 2017. AP Photo/Darron Cummings

By Nicole Yang and Hayden Bird

The Celtics’ decision to trade the No. 1 pick days before the NBA Draft was only the first in what could potentially be a series of impactful offseason moves. The trade talks continued even after the draft began. Here’s an updating list of all the latest Celtics rumors:

Thursday, June 22

As the Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum third overall, trade talks were reported again regarding Paul George:

The Celtics are reportedly trying to trade for another top-10 pick: 

Knicks asking price for Kristaps Porzingis currently too high for the Celtics, but Boston still open if deal is tweaked: According to a Knicks source, Jackson is asking for the third overall pick in Thursday’s draft as well as next year’s Brooklyn pick along with Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder. This version of the deal would not include Boston taking on Joakim Noah’s contract. The Celtics feel the price is far too high but they are open to tweaking the deal to include just one draft pick, either this year’s No. 3 or next year’s Brooklyn pick. (NY Daily News)

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According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics might have more trade options for the third pick:

Wednesday, June 21

The Celtics are among three teams who have reportedly put in the strongest offers for the Pacers’ Paul George:

Danny Ainge keeping everyone guessing on eve of NBA Draft: One NBA exec told the Herald that Ainge would love to find a way to get North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who isn’t rated as high as the third overall pick. Another said the Celts were looking at perhaps moving down in the draft again and picking up another asset for their trouble. (Boston Herald)

Lonzo Ball explained why he didn’t work out for the Celtics:

Josh Jackson: Not enough time to work out for Celtics after trade: “They did a little bit of moving around with their pick,” Jackson said. “I felt like they made it pretty clear who they were going to draft with the No. 1 pick, so I didn’t really feel like it was worth either of our times for me to work out with them. But then when they, you know, did the flip and went to No. 3, by then it was too late.” (ESPN)

Josh Jackson: ‘I’d love to play for Boston’: Jackson said he thinks he would fit right in with the Celtics’ defensive-minded players like Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, and Jaylen Brown. Jackson also said he has spoken with Jaylen Brown a few times, too. (Boston Globe)

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Josh Jackson’s agent is reportedly at the center of why he won’t attend a workout for the Celtics:

The Celtics reportedly received Josh Jackson’s medical information but appear to be ‘leaning’ toward Jayson Tatum: 

Tuesday, June 20

Josh Jackson still hasn’t worked out for the Celtics — and won’t unless the team makes him a guarantee:

Celtics interested in trading for Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis: Now that trade season is in full swing ahead of the draft, the Knicks have been flooded with interest in their star, sources confirmed. And according to a source, the Celtics are among those teams. (NY Daily News)

Jimmy Butler reportedly would rather stay in Chicago than be traded to Cleveland:

Report: Celtics turned down Bulls’ trade offer of Jimmy Butler for No. 3 pick in draft: Chicago went to Boston and offered Butler for the No. 3 pick of the 2017 NBA draft. It was a straight-up offer with nothing else attached. Reportedly, the Celtics said no to the offer. (CBS Boston)

Jimmy Butler-to-Celtics buzz more speculation than reality — for now: As of Sunday, the talk is based more on speculation than reality, a stance that at least three league executives the Tribune spoke to over the weekend don’t expect to change by Thursday. There is plenty of belief within the league and the Bulls organization that the Celtics are poised to use the No. 3 pick Thursday and then pursue Jazz All-Star Gordon Hayward in free agency come July. (Chicago Tribune)

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Sources: Bulls are actively shopping Jimmy Butler prior to NBA Draft: The Bulls routinely say they’ll take phone calls from teams about Butler’s availability around this time and at the trade deadline but this time around, multiple sources tell CSNChicago.com the Bulls are doing more than listening: they’re shopping Butler to many teams. (CSN Chicago)

Monday, June 19

Celtics work out Jayson Tatum as possible selection with No. 3 pick, per source: A league source told ESPN that Tatum—a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in his lone season at Duke—worked out for the Celtics at their practice facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. (ESPN)

Mock Draft 7.0: Potential trades, most likely picks for both rounds: The Suns have been trying to trade up and have had conversations with both the Lakers and Celtics. Who are they after? Sources point to Ball as the target. (ESPN)

Stephen A. Smith: ‘The Celtics are planning on acquiring Jimmy Butler’: Smith said that the Bulls offered Butler to the 76ers in an attempt to acquire the third overall pick in the draft, but that Philadelphia wasn’t interested. Now that Boston has the pick after trading the top selection for No. 3 and a future first, Smith believes the C’s intend to trade for Butler. He added that the Celtics would then sign Gordon Hayward in free agency. (CSNNE)

Blake Griffin includes Boston on his “Mt. Rushmore” of NBA cities:

‘We feel unanimously like this is the right move,’ says Danny Ainge: “We think there’s a really good chance the player we’ll take at three is the same player we would have taken at one. So this was a great opportunity to acquire an impactful asset.” (Boston Globe)

Saturday, June 17

Boston Celtics agree to trade top pick to Philadelphia 76ers: The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics have agreed on a deal that will send the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s Draft to Philly in exchange for the third overall pick and at least one future first-round pick, per a league source. (NBA)

Wednesday, June 14

Boston could target Blake Griffin in free agency: “Boston is really the danger for Blake Griffin. I think Boston’s two primary free-agent targets, right now, are Gordon Hayward and Blake Griffin. Now, they’re not going to get both of them, but they’re both players that would potentially have interest there. I think Boston looks at in different ways with their future.” (The Vertical Podcast)