We were told repeatedly in the days leading up to the NBA trade deadline the Celtics were pushing hard to muster their assets and buy themselves a star, and we reported as much in this space.

And as Feb. 18 gets smaller in the rear-view mirror, we are learning in more detail just how hard Danny Ainge pushed. Most all general managers say they were looking for a big deal, but most can get tentative at the deadline. Ainge, however, apparently wasn’t kidding when he said he was trying to make an immediate impact on the club.

Reporting on failed trade talks can be a misleading exercise, in that a) hundreds of possibilities that never have a shot of happening get discussed; and b) there seems little benefit in getting worked up about something that, you know, didn’t happen.

But even with those disclaimers, we believe it might offer insight into the Celtics’ mindset going forward to know some of what they were discussing.

A number of names were linked to the Celtics as the deadline loomed — Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Jahlil Okafor were among the most prominent players identified as targets. And then there is the NBA executive who, characterizing the Celts’ hunt, was quoted here as saying, “It’s like they took the All-Star roster and used it as Match.com.”

One of those stars whose profile intrigued the Celtics didn’t get to play in that game because of a strained knee. It’s been said Chicago’s Jimmy Butler would be a good fit here, and multiple sources told us the Celts made a strong move for the 6-foot-7 wing.

According to one source who was linked to a player involved in the potential transaction, the Celtics were willing to give up two first-round draft picks this year, the unprotected pick from the Nets and Dallas’ choice, which is protected if in the top seven.

There are differing reports on what players were offered, requested and denied, and how far the talks actually got, but the bottom line is there was no fit for the Celtics and Bulls at this time.

“This is not a case where Chicago was looking to trade Jimmy Butler,” a source said. “That would be crazy. But if Boston calls, you have to look at those picks and some of the players they have and at least hear them out. Most times when teams call about your star, you can just dismiss it right away, but you have to think about it with Ainge and the Celtics right now. There’s a lot to go over there with possibilities.”

The Bulls are in a difficult position this season, with injuries to Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah and a continued measure of uncertainty surrounding Derrick Rose’s health hindering their expected challenge to Cleveland in the East.

Ainge, meanwhile, was said to be knocking on a number of doors (Indiana’s Paul George also was a confirmed target), but with so many teams still in the playoff race and so little being known of how this offseason will play out with the greatly increased salary cap, most are looking for a better idea of where they will stand going forward before pulling the trigger on a trade for perhaps their best player.

“The term I’ve heard with Danny is that he’s looking for a ‘difference-maker,’ ” one league source said. “He’s definitely willing to pay you for the right guy, but he wants someone who can move them to the next level.”

There also appears to be a measure of concern that the Celtics will be left with a pocketful of picks in June. The club already is figuring on having quite a few young players on its roster, which is part of the reason why it has again committed to two summer leagues (Utah and Las Vegas).

The C’s have to be intrigued about where the Brooklyn pick lands in the lottery, and potentially getting a franchise player under a favorable contract, but the thought of adding later first-round picks (and, thus, guaranteed contracts) from Dallas and their own choice has to be a bit concerning when they already have promising young people they can’t get onto the floor.

It’s therefore quite clear that the Celtics again will be active as the draft approaches. While the club navigates through the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs, the next key date is May 17, the draft lottery. Once the Celts learn the position of the Nets’ pick, they will know better which assets they have to deal and which they would rather keep.