BOSTON (CBS) -- As the countdown to the NBA Draft reaches its final hours, the rumors are ramping up for the Boston Celtics.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the C's and Milwaukee Bucks were discussing a trade involving small forward Khris Middleton and the third overall selection on Thursday night. Those talks didn't result in a deal -- yet -- but appear to have expanded with the draft just a few hours away.
And the good news for Celtics fans is, it doesn't include the third pick anymore.
According to The Racine Journal Times' Gary Woelfel, Boston and Milwaukee are still discussing a swap involving Middleton, along with center Greg Monroe:
One of the trade scenarios, a source said, is packaging Middleton with veteran center Greg Monroe, whom the Bucks have been seriously shopping. It is known the Celtics have had interest in Monroe for a long time.
In return for Middleton and Monroe, the Bucks could possibly acquire two first-round picks from the Celtics in today's draft: Nos. 16 and 23, along with another player.
Middleton is a solid two-way player and had a career year on the offensive end last season, averaging 18.2 points while shooting 40 percent from downtown. He would fit an immediate need for Boston, and is signed for three more years at $42.3 million (his annual salary actually decreases every year, much like Isaiah Thomas' contract) with a player option for a fourth year.
Monroe signed a big contract with the Bucks last offseason and would be on the books for one more season at $17 million, and also owns a player option for $17.8 million for the 2017-18 season. While he isn't the defensive rim protector Boston could use, Monroe is a solid scorer down low and can rebound the basketball, something the Celtics could use.
If the Celtics can get a solid wing scorer in Middleton without giving up the third overall selection, opening up the possibility of more moves Thursday night, consider it a huge win for Danny Ainge.
