4 p.m.: Everyone’s going to be busy for the next six or seven hours, but perhaps no team’s basketball operations staff will be busier than Danny Ainge and the Celtics.
There’s also this. The Oklahoma City Thunder might be looking to move Serge Ibaka, who could be a huge get for any team looking to improve its frontcourt.
2:08 p.m.: Well, it’s not a blockbuster, but it is a trade. The Nets reportedly dealt Thaddeus Young after all.
1:05 p.m.: The Nets reportedly told forward Thaddeus Young he’s on the trading block. Brooklyn is looking for a first-round pick, as the Celtics own theirs in this year’s draft.
And speaking of that Celtics pick, it’s looking like a lot of teams want it.
12:30 p.m.: It sure sounds like the Boston Celtics are starting to get busy, and there’s no shortage of interest in that third pick, at least according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Goodman.
It probably goes without saying, but it’s worth questioning each and every report like this. Not because there’s reason to question these reporters — just about all of them have proven track records — but because there’s something to be said for getting your message out there in order to build leverage.
With that said, here’s the latest from The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
All of sudden, there’s plenty of interest in a draft pick that the Celtics, according Wojnarowski’s tweet, sound like they’re willing to make. Hmmm …
12:05 p.m.: Another big move might be in the works, and it involves the Boston Celtics.
10:59 a.m.: It looks as though the Phoenix Suns are trying to make some big moves, per ESPN’s Marc Stein.
The Suns have the Nos. 4, 13 and 28 picks to use as trade bait.
9:53 a.m.: Well, here’s a very curious rumor about Thon Maker from Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer. The 19-year-old from Sudan already was an interesting pick after taking a fifth year of high school to skirt the NBA’s age rule and enter the draft. But apparently some teams don’t think he’s actually 19.
Fischer also had some news about the Celtics, who reportedly are actively shopping the No. 3 pick.
9:15 a.m.: The day finally is here.
The 2016 NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. ET at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday, but the rumor mill will be turning all day. And expect plenty, because beyond the Nos. 1 and 2 picks — the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers are expected to take LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram, respectively — there are quite a few mysteries.
No one seems to know, for example, whether the Boston Celtics will make their No. 3 pick or trade it to the highest bidder. And given that a blockbuster trade already happened Wednesday with the Chicago Bulls sending Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, there should be plenty more where that came from.
We’ll be filling you in on all the goings-on around the NBA on Thursday, so keep it right here for more updates.
In fact, here are a couple of teams that reportedly already are looking to make moves before the draft.
Thumbnail photo via John Geliebter/USA TODAY Sports Images
