Report: Celtics ‘really shopping’ No. 3 pick in hopes of landing impact player

The Boston Celtics are trying to land a big-time player, and they’re reportedly willing to give up the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft to do so.

According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England, the Celtics are aggressively shopping the pick in the hopes of landing a big name, and he namechecked Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler as potential targets.

“[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,” Blakely said. “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,” Blakely added. “We’re talking about 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.'”

Durant would seem to be the top target. One of their key players is ready to recruit him, while the player himself has reportedly given the team his list of preferred teammates. Still, this might just be the Celtics shooting high – Durant may stay with the Thunder and Butler may not be made available by the Bulls. Boston could choose to either keep the pick or look at a lesser tier of targets – remember, they reportedly nearly moved the pick at the trade deadline for a dynamic young player.