Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor is reportedly on the trading block. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics have tried to find another trade option for their 3rd overall pick. They were looking for a veteran superstar but failed.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Celtics swung for the fences but they failed to get a veteran star.
Stein's sources have been quoted saying "the Celtics have been rebuffed" in their efforts to assemble a package to acquire four targets: Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks and Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz.
The Bulls are still firm on their stance not to trade Butler to the Celtics, possibly wary of creating another Eastern power, but they have not been big traders historically. The Bucks consider their young core as "untouchables" with Middleton and Parker being part of that group.
Hayward had his suitors-the Phoenix Suns were reportedly on the prowl as well, They have two lottery picks, no.4 and no.13 but there were no specifics on the offer. Utah says he's not available.
With just a day before the draft, the Celtics may have to revisit one trade-the one that started it all. But it didn't work for them before, so Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider suggests a tweak.
If the Celtics offer the no.3 pick and RJ Hunter, the Sixers should send back Jahlil Okafor and Robert Covington.
"The Celtics make the most sense of any realistic destination for Okafor," Pelton said. "Boston could use Okafor's ability to efficiently create his own shot, and in the short term Amir Johnson is a good frontcourt partner because Johnson can defend power forwards while playing on the perimeter."
Covington is also one of the biggest bargains in the league as he is set to earn only veteran's minimum. He is known as a combo forward who can allow the Celtics to play small ball.
For the Sixers, this is not really great value for Okafor, but more and more teams adapting to small ball are not interested in him, despite his impressive rookie year numbers. Besides if they really want Kris Dunn as reports have stated, then they should pay the price.
