Celtics Rumors: Analyzing Trade Buzz on Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler and More
The Boston Celtics have overachieved by reaching the playoffs in each of the past two years under head coach Brad Stevens. This offseason will present a golden opportunity for general manager Danny Ainge to supply Stevens with at least one franchise cornerstone, be it through the NBA draft or free agency.
With the NBA's salary cap on the rise and the Celtics in the enviable position of holding the No. 3 overall draft pick, along with two other first-round choices and five second-round selections, Boston has a lot of assets to play with.
Ainge spoke about his approach to a huge offseason with WBZ TV in May (via ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg).
"I just have to protect us from doing something irrational, just to get a little bit better," he said. "If it's something that gets us to be a true championship contender faster, then I think we're all on board. As long as it’s a sustainable formula and not a one-year quick hit that sacrifices future assets."
It's only natural under the Celtics' unique circumstances that juicy trade speculation has surfaced as the historic franchise looks to distinguish itself as the top challenger to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference next season.
Ainge Still Exploring Kevin Love Trade?
One way to potentially weaken the Cavs is for the Celtics to trade for one of Cleveland's three biggest stars.
RealGM's Andrew Perna reported that Ainge met with Kevin Love's agent, Jeff Schwartz, and is "believed to have inquired with Schwartz about whether a trade for Love could be revisited."
Perna indicated Boston has been linked to Love for "at least two years," which helps root this rumor in reality.
Also helping the Celtics' cause is Love's sinking stock. There's at least an argument to be made the Cavs' chemistry is better without the three-time All-Star, which was evident in their 120-90 victory in Game 3 of the NBA Finals sans Love.
In Stevens' system, which is predicated on spacing and big men who can shoot, Love would be the prototypical player. He can light it up from long range but is also a magnificent rebounder who's averaged as many as 15.2 boards per contest in a single season.
Love would also be the clear star in Boston, where he'd be beloved by fans as long as he emulates the dominant form he showed to start his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 27-year-old's penchant for laser-accurate outlet passes, combined with his unique offensive skill set, makes him an intriguing fit with the Celtics. It's a matter of whether Cleveland, in win-now mode, would be willing to take the third overall pick or any other draft capital Boston could offer.
Of course, after the Cavs' NBA Finals triumph over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, the entire complexion of any trade talks could change.
Jimmy Butler On Celtics' Radar
While compensation, and a championship in the Cavs' case, may complicate matters, the Chicago Bulls would love to have a draft pick high in the lottery—even if it means sacrificing Jimmy Butler to land it.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford reported the Celtics are "known to have trade interest in Butler." However, they also noted the Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to deal the No. 5 pick as part of a package with Butler as the main prize.
The Timberwolves have youthful assets they could place on the block in addition to their high draft selection, such as Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng, Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio. They also have Butler's former head coach, Tom Thibodeau.
Even though the Celtics have the higher lottery pick and more draft choices, they have less to offer from their roster.
Bleacher Report's Kelly Scaletta implied even if Boston deals away most of its best players to acquire Butler, there's still a viable pathway to the top of the East:
Chris Mannix of The Vertical reported in late March that Butler and head coach Fred Hoiberg were at odds, which was the root of Chicago's lackluster chemistry. Butler and Derrick Rose have struggled to coexist, so at least one of them would benefit from a fresh start.
The problem is that Rose hasn't returned to his former MVP form since being derailed by multiple knee injuries. That leaves Butler as the only trade commodity who could net the Bulls anything substantial in return.
With Joakim Noah hitting the open market, Chicago's core may be taking a hit as it is. Trading Butler could be the catalyst for a full-scale rebuild after the Bulls missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 this past season.
At least two teams seem to be gunning for Butler, which could net Chicago a top-five pick. It'll tough for the Celtics, though, because Minnesota has a greater number of younger, more proven players to use as trade chips.
Celtics Actively Shopping 3rd Overall Pick
Whether it's Love, Butler or someone else, CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely is adamant Boston is making a determined effort to land a proven veteran rather than a rookie with big upside:
"[I'm] hearing that No. 3 pick overall is the one that they are really shopping, 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.
The guys that they want are the guys that everybody wants. 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.'
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Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant seems to be more of a pipe dream than anything else, but in a sign-and-trade scenario, perhaps Boston could be a viable destination for him.
Stein mentioned the Celtics among the eight teams he heard would give their best pitches to Durant this summer. Getting away from Russell Westbrook and joining a lesser version of him in Isaiah Thomas—who'd likely be more willing to defer with the game on the line—might be what Durant needs.
The Thunder would also benefit from the sign-and-trade, as opposed to letting Durant walk without netting any compensation in return.
But much of the Durant-Boston talk is speculation. Even the substantiated rumors involving Love and Butler are hearsay and could be mere due diligence.
Whatever happens on draft night, the Celtics are going to add some kind of blue-chip talent for Stevens to plug in. That, along with whatever Ainge and Co. can do in free agency, should help Boston improve on its fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
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