Celtics Rumors: Boston Reportedly Interested in Dennis Smith Jr., May Trade Back

The Boston Celtics have the No. 3 pick of the 2017 NBA draft on Thursday, and what they will do with it remains anyone's guess.                  

Sources have told Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald that the Celtics are interested in North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith Jr., while another source said the team may trade down once again in order to acquire another asset.

Kansas' Josh Jackson, Duke's Jayson Tatum and Florida State's Jonathan Isaac remain other options for Boston.

If Smith did go at No. 3, it would be a significant surprise. Most view him as the fourth- or fifth-best point guard in the class. Washington's Markelle Fultz and UCLA's Lonzo Ball are expected to go No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, while Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox should also go early.

DraftExpress lists Smith as the No. 7 overall player in the class.

Still, the former Wolfpack star thinks general manager Danny Ainge could maneuver his way toward acquiring him.

"I know he likes me," Smith said of Ainge, per Bulpett. "I'm a big fan of them; they're fans of me, so we'll see how that plays out."

On Wednesday, ESPN's Chad Ford reported the Celtics were "leaning" toward Tatum with the third pick, although were still considering Jackson.