The Boston Celtics have the third best record in the Eastern Conference, and many people who pay attention to the NBA will likely say that they have overachieved so far. The Celtics have a very deep roster but don't exactly have the star power that may be necessary to make a deep playoff run.
Danny Ainge is very aware of this fact, and because of that, he has been focusing on getting a star player since last offseason. The names that have been most associated with the Celtics have been DeMarcus Cousins and Al Horford, among others, but Ainge couldn't get anything done on that front. After the trade deadline passed, Ainge said that the Celtics were close to acquiring a star, but he never revealed who.
That star player may be Jimmy Butler, as the Celtics made a bid for the Chicago Bulls guard. The Bulls said that they were not interested in trading Butler, but they had to be at least somewhat tempted considering that the Celtics were offering a package including two first round picks, one of which is the Brooklyn Nets unprotected pick.
Butler would seem like an untouchable for the Bulls considering he is their best player, but there are a couple of factors that would make him more tradable than most stars. One is the fact that the Bulls may not make the playoffs this season and may need a rebuild. Another factor is the fact that Butler's teammates have not been happy with the way he has handled becoming a star.
The 26-year-old is in the first year of his five-year $92 million deal with the Bulls, so trading him wouldn't seem to be the wise move. However, when the Celtics call, teams have to at least listen considering the amount of assets they have. If the Bulls decided that they wanted to rebuild, trading Butler to the Celtics wouldn't be the worst idea because they could get a lot back that will help them in the future.
In the end, though, the Celtics were unable to make a deal happen. It is unclear if the deal was ever close, but the main takeaway from this is the fact that the Celtics are willing to pay a premium price for a guy that they think will take them to the next level. Butler is certainly a star in the NBA and would vastly improve the Celtics, but he is not the only player that fits that description. Ainge will not quit until he can puts a team on the court that he feels can reasonably compete for a title, and Celtics fans should love hearing that.
