Celtics Are Not Leprechauns
Similarly, the 2016 NBA trade deadline found the Philadelphia 76ers phone ringing once more, this time by the Boston Celtics. In that setting, the Celtics reportedly offered the Philadelphia 76ers the pick of the Brooklyn Nets and other considerations for center Jahlil Okafor. At the time, the Philadelphia 76ers rejected the offer.
But in days leading up to the 2016 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers had interest in revisiting the trade, knowing it would bring the team the third pick of the NBA draft. Once more, the team entered negotiations presuming a one for one swap: center Jahlil Okafor for the third pick of the NBA draft.
Once more the team would discover complications in their simple trade scenario. Once more a simple swap did not happen because the other team raised the asking price:
Report: #Celtics wanted #76ers C-PF Nerlens Noel and the 2017 #Lakers 1st round pick from #Sixers for the #3 pick.
— Kyle Cohen (@kylecohenNBA) June 25, 2016
Once more, the Philadelphia 76ers wisely avoided this trade as well. Perhaps it was the sting of the 2016 trade deadline rejection. Perhaps the Boston Celtics overestimated the value of the third pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. Perhaps the Celtics wanted to ensure that they would walk out of a trade with the 76ers as the consensus winner of the trade.
In any case, the Celtics ended up with Jaylon Brown instead of 17.5 points per game and improving Jahlil Okafor. It became clear that there was no pot of gold in Boston after the Sixers called the Celtic’s bluff.
Next: Time to Walk Away