The Boston Celtics are always mentioned when a trade rumor for a big name player is circulating around the NBA. It's no secret that they want to create a big three, replicating successful ones such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, as well as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. It seems like they might have been close, according to Zach Lowe.

To begin, they were trying to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls. Using that number 3 pick, as well as young players and possibly future picks, Danny Ainge tried to lure Gar Forman into budging, but Forman kept Butler. If the Celtics acquired Butler, they were hoping to lure other free agents to Boston, most notably Kevin Durant and Al Horford. Even though the Celtics had a meeting with Kevin Durant, he decided to go to the Golden State Warriors. But the Celtics did get the big name player they've needed since trading away Pierce and Garnett: Al Horford. Al Horford brings the interior defense the Celtics need, as well as a team first guy.

Even though that big three plan didn't exactly go as planned, the Celtics still have had a pretty good off-season. They drafted Jaylen Brown, as well as some draft-and-stash guys such as Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic,Ben Bentil, Abdel Nader, and possibly Demetrius Jackson. They signed and kept most of their free agents (except Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner) and added Al Horford.

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