Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images Sport)
The NBA trade deadline has passed and it was anti-climactic, which means, many moves were set aside, and speculation could continue until the end of the season.
However, the silence of the trade deadline from our front did not mean that the front offices did not get busy. One of the teams which probably had the most activity was the Boston Celtics.
That was definitely the case as reported by Mass Live in an interview with Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, aka "Trader Danny." One does not earn such a moniker in the league, but he has executed some of the transactions that have rocked the league.
On Thursday's trade deadline, he was expected to live up to his reputation, with big names like Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Kevin Love and even Blake Griffin rumored to be available. He did not exactly pull one off, but he came very close as he stated himself.
"One story I probably can share with you is -- I can't tell you the team or the name -- but it was very close," Ainge said (h/t SB Nation). "Something that we had been deliberating on for two days straight. The other team was doing that, and we were wrapping ourselves around a big package to do a deal. And at the very last minute they just said they did not want to do it. They just backed out. So it was a deal that was talked about, thought about, and that was probably the closest that we came."
That was intriguing, especially if the Brooklyn Nets pick was in play. While the Celtics have young, talented players, they're very best asset is not even on the court and its value yet to be determined by the draft lottery.
It was a Boston Herald report by Steve Bulpett that brought to light the answers to the mystery player/team. Many suspected it was DeMarcus Cousins but Bulpett said it was Jahlil Okafor.
"While a league source has indicated the late target Ainge has referred to in radio interviews was Philadelphia's Jahlil Okafor, Ainge has turned silent on the matter," the report stated.
It was not clear whether the Nets' pick was offered, but if it were, the Sixers may have made the right move in turning it down. There are too many variables at this point-the Brooklyn Nets are not tanking, they might improve and the pick might plummet.
