With the 2017 NBA Draft just one day away, the rumor mill is in full swing. And your Boston Celtics are right in the middle of it all.
Since trading the No. 1 pick in the draft to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday for the No. 3 pick and a future first rounder, the Celtics have been mentioned in almost every rumor.
Here's a quick recap of some of the players they've been linked to in the draft, free agency and trade discussions:
Kristaps Porzingis: News broke on Tuesday that the New York Knicks were open to trading the 7-foot-3 sharpshooter, which whipped Celtics fans into a frenzy. Interior defense and rebounding were a major problem for Boston this year, and Porzingis also has the shooting to fit in well with head coach Brad Stevens' offense. Acquiring him would likely require giving up one or more of the Celtics' first round draft picks, along with a player or players from the current roster.
Jimmy Butler: Also on Tuesday, word started leaking out that the Chicago Bulls are shopping Butler, who looked nearly unstoppable against the Celtics in this year's first round playoff matchup. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says the Celtics are planning to go hard after Butler, a trade that would likely mean giving up this year's No. 3 pick and possibly additional players or picks. He'd bring another great scoring option to go along with Isaiah Thomas.
Anthony Davis: The New Orleans Pelicans big man is a legitimate franchise player. That makes it unlikely that the Pelicans would deal him, at least not until they find out if he can mesh with DeMarcus Cousins, last year's trade deadline acquisition. If he does get dealt, he would likely bring a huge haul that could decimate the Celtics' stockpile of future draft picks, not to mention the current roster.
Gordon Hayward: The buzz surrounding the Utah Jazz free-agent-to-be has been relatively quiet of late, which makes sense given that he won't officially be a free agent until July 6. He has frequently been linked to the Celtics because of his close ties to Stevens, who coached him in college at Butler University. He would also fill a need in Boston, which is desperately in need of more shooting. His wife did create a bit of a stir when she posted a photo on Instagram showing their daughter wearing a "Go Green" shirt. The post was later deleted.
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Blake Griffin: The Los Angeles Clippers forward is also scheduled to become a free agent on July 6. He's been injured often in recent years, but is one of the league's most explosive players when healthy. He recently included Boston on a list of teams he'd like to play for. He'd bring scoring and rebounding to a team in need of both.
Paul George: The Celtics have been interested in the Indiana Pacers forward for some time, but he's a free agent after next season, and has already said he's hoping to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. But the Celtics could still give it a shot and hope that after a season in Boston he decides to stay.
Jayson Tatum: The freshman forward from Duke University was hardly mentioned as a potential Celtics draft pick before they traded the #1 selection. But now that they're picking third, he's considered the frontrunner. He worked out for the team on Monday, and experts say general manager Danny Ainge appears to be leaning toward drafting him. He could emerge as a secondary scoring option to Thomas.
Josh Jackson: The explosive University of Kansas forward seems to be a perfect fit for the Celtics given his penchant for playing tough defense. He also showed a better-than-anticipated 3-point shot during his one year in college. But he has refused the team's efforts to bring him in for a last-minute workout before the draft, leading most to assume he's going elsewhere.
