The Boston Celtics reportedly are in trade talks for their No. 6 pick of the 2014 NBA draft. Boston is believed to be eying a deal for Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love; if the Celtics were unable to acquire Love, another report indicates Rajon Rondo might be put on the trade block.
ESPN's Chad Ford became the latest NBA insider to report Boston is in discussions to trade their sixth overall draft pick. Ford's newest mock draft indicated Boston would select Joel Embiid if the 7-footer falls to the sixth spot, but otherwise Boston is entertaining the idea of trading the pick.
"...The Celtics are engaged in a number of different trade scenarios that could alter this plan (by either trading the pick or getting an established star that would necessitate getting a player in the draft who could help them now.)," Ford wrote on Monday.
The draft stock of Embiid, who was once considered a top three pick, took a hit when it was revealed he would be undergoing foot surgery. There're also concerns about his back, which kept him sidelined down the stretch of the 2013 season with Kansas.
A growing number of people, including Grantland's Bill Simmons and the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett, believe the Celtics have a legitimate shot to land Love in a trade. Love has spoken in the past of his adoration of the Celtics franchise, and playing alongside Rondo could be enough to convince Love to sign a long-term extension in Boston.
Boston has the Nos. 6 and 17 picks in the 2014 draft and additional future first-rounders to offer for Love. If Boston were unable to pick up Love, Rondo's future as a Celtic could be in jeopardy.
"If the Celtics cannot get Love," Bulpett wrote on Thursday, "they are planning to continue with the longer and more methodical rebuilding process, a process that would likely see Rajon Rondo traded. (An NBA source said they would also have taker for Jeff Green if they chose to move him.)"
A deal for Love would likely be completed before or on the day of Thursday's draft to maximize what Minnesota gets in exchange for him.
