NBA

NBA trade deadline: Are Carmelo Anthony and Jimmy Butler being shopped?

Jeff Zillgitt
USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony controls the ball as Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler defends during the first half at the United Center.

The New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings started the NBA’s trade deadline season with a monster of a blockbuster trade.

What’s next? Who’s next? You’re going to hear a lot about Chicago Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler going to the Boston Celtics, who have the assets to make this happen.

But here’s insight into the Celtics and those assets, which include several first-round picks in the next three drafts: Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been stingy with those picks, waiting for the right player and right fit for the roster under Coach Brad Stevens.

That doesn’t mean Boston won’t make a deal, but Ainge is not under pressure to make a deal just for the sake of making one because he has the means. He’s content taking the long view and drafting quality players until he finds the perfect deal. Draft picks give a team vast flexibility for the present and future.

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While willing to listen and discuss deals, the Bulls have not shown a desire to move Butler, who gives them a chance to make the playoffs this season. They are not actively shopping him now.

Butler, 27, remains a player to build around. Don’t forget, the Bulls have draft picks and will have salary cap flexibility within the next two seasons. They can retool while keeping Butler. If Chicago wants to move him at some point, it makes sense to wait until the draft when draft spots are determined and the Bulls can target specific teams for their selection.

Short of trading Butler, the Bulls are willing to part ways with Doug McDermott and/or Taj Gibson if the right picks – including a lottery pick for Gibson – are included.

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There’s a theme emerging from front-office executives when it comes to blockbuster deals. Many are unwilling to pull the trigger unless they receive a Godfather offer – an offer they can’t refuse. Unless of course, it’s the Kings, who received an offer they should have refused.

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While that theory applies mainly to teams, it also applies to New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who has a no-trade clause in his contract. If there’s an offer to play for a contender, Anthony will have to consider it. But with his salary ($24.5 million this season), it will require salary cap ingenuity to make a deal work with a limited number of teams. The bet here: Anthony remains a Knick.

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The Orlando Magic remain active in trade discussions, and Magic general manager Rob Hennigan loves Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson, who played in Oklahoma City when Hennigan was an assistant GM for the Thunder.

More than the Pistons trying to trade Jackson, the Magic are pushing to get him. But the price is not cheap. Who is Orlando willing to send to Detroit? Guard Elfrid Payton? With a high price set for Jackson, don't be surprised if the Magic are unwilling to pay it.

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Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor has been the subject of trade talks, and the Sixers were close to a trade that would’ve sent Okafor to the Portland Trail Blazers two weeks ago. Portland changed course, but the Sixers are still trying to find an opportunity for Okafor on another team.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt