The Boston Celtics were predicted to be very active in the first round of the NBA Draft and instead stayed put, but it was not for lack of trying on their part. With a stash of draft picks, the Celtics were eyeing several deals to move up the draft board, but Danny Ainge confirmed that all of them failed to transpire. Instead, the Celtics stayed put to select Terry Rozier and RJ Hunter with an eye on free agency coming up.
"We tried hard to trade up," said Ainge, via ESPNBoston.com. "We spent the last couple weeks trying to move and, really, today was the only time that we had any indication that we could move up. But we were trying. At the end of the day, it's like Red [Auerbach] used to say, 'Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones you don't make.' Maybe we were going too hard at it."
According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com is reporting the Celtics were very willing to deal Jared Sullinger and Brandon Bass, but nothing came together and the team will now just focus on free agency and players like Kevin Love and Greg Monroe with the potential of LaMarcus Aldridge being an option as well.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting Kevin Love has opted out of his player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but is expected to make returning to the team a priority. Wojnarowski reports that the Cavaliers were very aware that Love would opt out of his deal, but believe he will return on a short-term offer before getting a max contract when the salary cap expands. There is a small window for teams to try and swoop in and the Celtics will be one of them. Chances are slim that a deal can be finalized, but the Celtics will at least try.
Defense will be a priority once the market opens on July 1 and LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Monroe will be targets. According to the Boston Herald, point guard Isaiah Thomas plans on recruiting the former Portland power forward to Boston while other players are thinking the same thing. Monroe has been a priority for Boston for some time now and while competition will be high for the center, the Celtics have the money to win him over.