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Report: Celtics shopped No. 3 pick for Butler, Hayward, Parker

Tom Szczerbowski / USA TODAY Sports

Danny Ainge is working the phones, but he's yet to find a taker for his not-so-coveted No. 3 pick.

ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Boston Celtics have dangled the No. 3 pick in different trade packages for Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, Jabari Parker, and Khris Middleton, but they were rebuked each time.

Stein passes along that the Utah Jazz made Hayward unavailable. Likewise for the Milwaukee Bucks and their combination of Parker and Middleton.

As for Butler, the Chicago Bulls remain uninterested - just as they were near the trade deadline when the Celtics made inquiries.

Having accumulated a wealth of future assets in previous deals - most notably with the Brooklyn Nets - the Celtics apparently find themselves with the enviable problem of holding too many assets. The Celtics have three first-round picks in this year's draft but they're looking to add established talent to their playoff core.

Ironically, Boston tried in vain to move a package of six picks for the No. 9 selection in last year's draft, but were turned aside. As it were, the 2016 draft is significantly weaker than the 2015 crop.

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