Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is doing what he can to upgrade the roster, which means no one on the roster is safe — not even last year's first-round selection Marcus Smart.
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According to B.A. Turner from LA Times, Boston attempted to acquire Rookie of the Year contender Nerlens Noel and the No. 3 overall selection for Marcus Smart and this year's two first-round picks.
"The executives said the Celtics were looking to trade point guard Marcus Smart and the Nos. 16 and 28 picks in the first round to Philadelphia for center/forward Nerlens Noel and the No. 3 pick. But the 76ers, the executives said, weren't interested."
It doesn't hurt to kick the tires on any trade, but no one — not even Ainge — had to expect the Sixers to pull the trigger on this lopsided deal.