Report: Boston offered Marcus Smart as part of package for No. 3 pick, Philly said no thanks

If you’re looking for a couple of teams you can expect to be active on draft night, start with Denver and Boston.

Denver has been dragged into the DeMarcus Cousins sinkhole, but the Celtics are circling that situation and would be interested if the Kings’ owner decides to move him.

But that’s not all the Celtics are doing, they tried to move up to the No. 3 pick, reports Broderick Turner at the Los Angeles Times. It just didn’t work.

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.

I wouldn’t be either. Now, Smart and the 16 for just the three, maybe I listen if I’m in Philadelphia, at least until I remember I can draft D’Angelo Russell with the three, and he’s better than Smart. But I’m not moving the No. 3 and Noel for Smart, essentially.

One thing to remember, the offers that were made last week and over the weekend are the first part of the negotiations. Most of the time the talks wither and die, but occasionally the sides find some common ground and things get serious.

Still, nobody makes their best offer early; it will be Thursday night before anyone shows their cards — for example, what Boston would surrender for the No. 3 pick, and what the Sixers would take to move it. Most likely the talks between these teams are dead.

Then comes the Kincks with the No. 4 pick and... watch out.