Fred Hoiberg, Jimmy Butler

The Boston Celtics reportedly pursued Jimmy Butler (right) before the trade deadline.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The Boston Celtics would not include Jae Crowder in Jimmy Butler talks prior to the trade deadline, according to CSN Chicago's Vernon Goodwill.

Goodwill reported Wednesday that "there was no realistic possibility of a trade" once Boston declined to put Crowder in the discussions.

Boston's pursuit of Butler has been reported before. In early March, the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett wrote the Celtics were willing to surrender two first-round picks in this summer's draft -- the pick from Brooklyn, which could land in the top five, and the pick from Dallas, which will be somewhere in the teens. That's a big haul, but Butler's one of the NBA's best two-way wings.

The Bulls were a bit of a mess this year, but would still need plenty of incentive to trade a young star who is under contract through at least the 2018-19 season, with a player option for the following campaign. Regardless of Chicago's mentality entering the offseason, expect the Celtics to call again about Butler this summer, just like they will call about plenty of other young studs. If Boston gets lucky on lottery night, team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge will only have more options while he explores whether to trade the Nets pick.