The Celtics and 76ers have been involved in substantive talks regarding a trade involving the first and third picks in next Thursday’s NBA draft, the Herald has confirmed. The story was first reported by ESPN and The Vertical.

According to Herald sources, however, the move does not appear to be imminent, and it’s quite possible nothing will be decided until perhaps Monday.

Both clubs are looking into what else Philadelphia would need to offer to move up the two positions in the draft. Per the discussions that already have taken place, it’s a given that the 76ers will have to include at least one other future first-round pick.

The prize for Philly is Washington guard Markelle Fultz, who, while he is seen as the best bet by most in the NBA, is not necessarily viewed as a transcendent player. The risk for the Celtics is that he becomes one.

According to league sources, the Celts have been very willing to discuss deals for the No. 1 choice.

“If (the Celtics) can turn that into more than one player and still get a guy it wants (in this draft), I think they’d love to do that,” one NBA executive said.

While Danny Ainge may like some more than others, sources now and over the latter half of the college season say he’s been looking hardest into guards Fultz and Lonzo Ball and forwards Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum.

The Celts certainly would benefit from adding any one of those players, but the key to this transaction may be the additional asset gained. It might be helpful to view this potential move for what it could also bring.

It would be a fair certainty Philadelphia will be conveying either its first-rounder in 2018 or the one in the same draft it acquired from the Lakers. The Celtics already have Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick, as well as their own.

And at this point, Ainge has to be looking even harder at turning these stock futures into present day value. With Al Horford having turned 31 earlier this month and Isaiah Thomas about to enter the final year of his contract, it would behoove the Celtics to see what they can accomplish now instead of just playing the long game. And they’ve already been hoarding potential cap space to make a run at a major free agent this summer.

In other words, there could be more shoes to drop if this deal goes through, and the Celts at least will be in position to offer a fair bundle of picks and younger players of value to a team that may be nearing the wall with a present star.

The C’s have done very well rebuilding on the fly with draft picks and tradeable players (Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, etc.), and another club might believe it can replicate that rise. The difference in a deal the Celtics could make now is that, unlike their key trade with the Nets, they wouldn’t be leaving their cupboard bare. The more valuable picks they would be giving up would be based on other teams having lottery-bound seasons.

Getting back to the current issue being discussed, one can expect both the Celtics and Sixers to investigate this deal over the next day or two before reaching a final decision.

There may be a bit more pressure on Philly, as other clubs potentially move in to see if they can get their hands on the first overall pick.

It was said here since the draft lottery put the Celtics in the driver’s seat that Ainge’s chances to step on the accelerator improved greatly. The matter of whether he can get the C’s in position to compete with the league’s elite will be decided by how well he can parlay the moves that appear to be moving into greater proximity.