The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, with the biggest move being the Dallas Mavericks acquiring center Nerlens Noel from the Philadelphia 76ers. However, many of the major storylines going into the day remain without much action, and they are worth paying attention to again in the offseason. Here is how all of the major storylines unfolded on trade deadline day:
Nuggets gave Pacers best offer for Paul George
One of the big names who was made available at the deadline was Paul George, but the Indiana Pacers ultimately decided not to trade their All-Star. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Denver Nuggets came up with a "monster" offer for George, but the deal didn't happen when Indiana told Denver that George was unlikely to re-sign with the team when he became a free agent next summer.
Denver today made a "monster" offer to Indiana for Paul George, league sources tell @ChrisBHaynes and me, but the talks gained no traction.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
Sources tell @ChrisBHaynes and me that it's been conveyed to Denver that Paul George would be highly unlikely to commit there long term.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
ESPN sources say Indy ownership felt compelled to hear out Paul George suitors but that Larry Bird was determined to swat away all pitches.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
Reports indicate that George plans to either re-sign with the Pacers or join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. He is averaging 22.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season.
Celtics, Bulls will talk Butler trade again in the offseason
The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls were in negotiations about a trade that would send Jimmy Butler to Boston, and the Nets' first-round pick in this draft - which is owned by the Celtics - eventually came into play in talks. However, the deadline passed without the deal getting done, but ESPN's Nick Friedell expects them to revisit the deal before the draft.
Bulls have made it clear with this move they are building for future. Butler/Celtics chatter won't stop heading into the draft.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) February 23, 2017
Boston has been trying to trade for Butler since the offseason, yet they have been unwilling to meet Chicago's asking price. They were also talking to the Pacers about acquiring Paul George, but those talks didn't go far.
Timberwolves balked at Rose trade
The New York Knicks were in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a deal that would have sent Derrick Rose to Minnesota and Ricky Rubio to New York. The Knicks originally wanted more than just Rubio in return for Rose, but as the deadline came, the Timberwolves eventually passed on a one-for-one swap, according to Stein.
On Deadline Day, Minnesota ultimately decided to walk away from the Ricky Rubio-for-Derrick Rose trade, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
At the finish line, league sources say, New York was prepared to trade Derrick Rose for Ricky Rubio straight up. But the Wolves balked.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
Rose will be a free agent this offseason, and the Timberwolves did not plan to try to re-sign him. They plan to have rookie Kris Dunn take the reins as the team's starting point guard sooner rather than later, and will likely look to trade Rubio again this offseason.
Sixers still shopping Okafor
Even after dealing Nerlens Noel, the 76ers were still trying to trade Jahlil Okafor before the deadline, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Sources: Philadelphia has continued to search for a trade for Jahlil Okafor.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 23, 2017
It's likely that the 76ers will try to trade Okafor again in the offseason, and several teams - namely the Celtics and Bulls - have expressed interest in him.
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