Celtics president Danny Ainge: Other team ‘backed out’ of trade involving Nets pick

The Celtics – deep with talent and draft picks – somewhat surprisingly didn’t make a trade before yesterday’s deadline. Boston is good enough now to remain patient, but it’s a little surprising, with so many assets to discuss, nothing came to fruition.

But that doesn’t mean nothing came close.

Celtics president Danny Ainge on 98.5 The Sports Hub, via CSN New England:

We were very close. One story I can probably share with you is - I can’t tell you the team or the name - but it was very close. It was something we had been deliberating on for two days straight. The other team was doing that. And we were wrapping ourselves around a big package to do a deal. And at the very last minute, they just said they did not want to do it. They just backed out. So, it was a deal that was talked about, thought about. And that was probably the closest that we came.

We were willing to do one deal, and it just didn’t happen. Both teams weren’t ready to go. And it was a really, tough close deal. And it was certainly not a no-brainer. There was risk on both sides’ part. But at the end of the day, both teams were not ready to do it.

Adam Kaufman of WBZ NewsRadio:

.@danielrainge told me the #Nets pick WAS involved in the "bigger package" other team backed out of "at the very last minute." #Celtics

— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) February 19, 2016

“Backed out” are strong words that imply the other team agreed at one point, though perhaps Ainge just means backed out of negotiations.

If it’s the latter, this isn’t worth getting worked up over. Ainge isn’t well-positioned to know how close a team truly is to accepting a trade – no matter what is says while negotiating. The fact that Boston was willing to make this trade indicates the other team shouldn’t (though it’s far from conclusive, because, of course, trades happen). The other team just might have never found this deal as viable as Ainge did, which happens all the time in discussions.

But if the other team agreed then backed out, we’re onto a major “what if?”

And we all know what you’re thinking: Kevin Love. If we’re taking Ainge at his word, that’s not the case. Kaufman:

ALSO: Danny Ainge said the mystery team involved would've surprised fans because rumor was "never reported" #Celtics https://t.co/wT5QixfFn2

— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) February 19, 2016

Guess away. If the Celtics’ were willing to trade an extremely valuable Nets pick, it’d have to be quite a player.