If a new report is to believed, the Boston Celtics considered trading point guard Marcus Smart less than one year after drafting him sixth overall.
In an attempt to move up in this Thursday’s NBA draft, the Celtics offered a package of Smart and the Nos. 16 and 28 picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for center Nerlens Noel and the third overall selection, league executives told the Los Angeles Times.
The Sixers, per the Times’ sources, were not interested.
Dealing away Smart, a second-team All-Rookie selection this season and a player who’s viewed as a cornerstone to Boston’s rebuild, would be a drastic move, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge did confirm two things Tuesday in his pre-draft meeting with reporters: that, yes, the team is trying to move up in the draft, and that no player on Boston’s current roster is untouchable.
“There’s no such thing as untouchables,” Ainge said. “But there’s guys that we really love and are part of our core that we don’t want to move, sure.”
Noel, an Everett, Mass., native, sat out the 2013 season after being selected sixth overall. He impressed in his first taste of NBA action, averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.8 steals for the Sixers this season en route to earning first-team All-Rookie honors.
Many draft experts predict Philadelphia, which is entering Year 3 of its full-tank rebuild, will use the No. 3 pick this year on Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
