Kris Dunn to the Celtics at No. 3? Probably just a smoke screen

Are the Boston Celtics actually interested in keeping their No. 3 overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA Draft, or is that just something they’re putting out there to increase their chances of completing a trade?

That question will be answered soon enough. But for now, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical is reporting that the Celtics are interested in two-time Big East Player of the Year Kris Dunn.

Kris Dunn has significant traction in Boston as No. 3 pick, sources tell @TheVertical. No final decision — and trades remain on table.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016

Of course, other respected NBA reporters claim the Philadelphia 76ers are “ramping up their efforts” to acquire the No. 3 pick from Boston. In all likelihood, the two reports go hand in hand.

The 76ers draft at No. 1, where it is basically a foregone conclusion that they will take Ben Simmons. While Simmons is considered by most to be the best player in the draft, Philly already has a surplus of front-court talent. They can’t pass up the opportunity to draft Simmons, but they are also in need of guard help.

Is it a coincidence that the 76ers, who are talking trade with the Celtics, are said to be high on Dunn, whom the Celtics are now supposedly targeting? Of course not.

There’s also this:

Celtics fielding calls for the No. 3 pick — and the majority of the teams interested to take Kris Dunn, sources told ESPN.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) June 23, 2016

Boston needs front court help. It seems very clear that they want to trade the No. 3 pick, and the Sixers have two big men that they can afford to deal. The Celtics reportedly prefer one of those big men over the other, so they want to make sure they build the value of their pick as much as possible to convince Philly to give them their choice of the two.

Mind games, people. There will be a lot more of them from now until 7 p.m. EST on Thursday.