The Boston Celtics appear to be in the market for a superstar and are willing to dangle their No. 3 pick in this month's draft.
According to CSNNE.com, the Celtics are "really shopping" the pick in the hopes of landing a star player in return.
"[I'm] hearing that No. 3 pick overall is the one that they are really shopping," CSN's Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely said, "trying to be as aggressive as possible in trying to move that pick, because they want to get a difference-making, impact player right now. And they believe using that No. 3 pick, and maybe some other players and/or picks, might be the best way to [make] that happen."
Celtics executive Danny Ainge has some experience pulling off this maneuver. In 2007, the Celtics traded the No. 5 pick -- along with multiple players -- to the then-SuperSonics for Ray Allen. Later that summer the Celtics traded multiple players -- highlighted by Al Jefferson â to the Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett.
So who could the Celtics get back in a potential deal?
"The guys that they want are the guys that everybody wants," Blakely said. "We're talking about [Kevin] Durant, we're talking about Jimmy Butler, those type of players. And those guys are going to be at the top of their wish list until those guys say, 'We don't want to come to Boston.' "
The Celtics are coming off back-to-back playoff berths despite not having a true go-to guy. If Boston lands a franchise-type player this offseason, it will be a viable contender next season. But the Celtics would most likely have to add some of their core pieces to entice a deal and make the money match up for league approval.
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