(Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)
Remember when, in 2011, the Boston Celtics passed on drafting Jimmy Butler so they could select MarShon Brooks?
Good times.
To be fair, Butler, the 30th pick in 2011, was passed over 29 times before being picked up by the Chicago Bulls. So it’s not like the Celtics are alone. But they can be uniquely regretful knowing that Butler had assumed he was headed to Beantown.
Consider what he said to Bill Simmons on “The Bill Simmons” podcast, per MassLive.com’s Jay King:
“What’s crazy is I thought I was going to end up with y’all (the Celtics),” Butler said on the podcast. “Doc (Rivers) being from Marquette, I (was) ready. But I’m not mad. I went 30th to Chicago and it’s a good place for me right now.”
Welp. Hearing that has to kind-of-sort-of suck for Celtics fans.
Fear not, though. It appears your team is trying to make up for lost time.
According to ESPN.com’s Chad Ford and Marc Stein, the Celtics, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, are aggressively trying to pry Butler out of Chicago. If the Bulls are actually willing to move him, and the deal in question comes down to which team can make the better offer, the Celtics are miles in front of the Timberpups.
Team president Danny Ainge, a notorious low-baller, just has to pony up the assets to make it happen. If he does, the Celtics and their fans won’t have to wonder what life would be like with Butler anymore. If he doesn’t, or if the Bulls refuse to move him, Boston and its supporters will just have to keep on using their imagination.
