Paul George Rumors: Celtics Rejected Offer Included 3 1st-Round Picks, Starters

The Indiana Pacers reportedly turned down a bounty of draft picks and players from the Boston Celtics on draft night in a proposed package that would have sent Paul George to the reigning Atlantic Division champions.

According to ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman and the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach, the Celtics offered three first-round picks and two starters in exchange for George at the 2017 NBA draft on June 22. 

Goodman added that Boston did not include the unprotected 2018 Brooklyn Nets first-round pick or the 2018 Los Angeles Lakers/2019 Sacramento Kings first-round selections (acquired through Philadelphia) in the proposal. 

Furthermore, Goodman reported Jae Crowder was one of the two starters Boston was willing to part with to snag George. 

The Pacers proceeded to nix that effort and reportedly agreed to trade George to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, per ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and USA Today's Sam Amick. 

The two sides also reportedly engaged in talks centered around George at the Feb. 23 trade deadline. 

According to Himmelsbach, the Celtics' offer at that time included their 2017 swap rights with the Brooklyn Nets—which ultimately netted them the No. 1 pick before they traded it to the Philadelphia Sixers—along with three other future first-round selections. 

With George now bound for the Thunder and Jimmy Butler the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Celtics will have to ramp up their pursuit of free-agent swingman Gordon Hayward if they want to salvage their dream of adding another star to the fold this summer.