Report: Cavs were 'on pins and needles' as Celtics explored blockbuster trades

The Boston Celtics had the loudest quietest trade deadline day in recent memory on Thursday, drumming up a ton of buzz - and a good measure of anxiety among their rivals - before ultimately electing to sit on their assets and eschew a big trade for the second consecutive year.

In the lead-up to the deadline, the Celtics engaged in talks with the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, discussing potential blockbuster deals to add an All-NBA caliber wing in Paul George or Jimmy Butler to their already strong core.

The Celtics ultimately balked at the asking prices - which started with at least one of Boston's juicy Brooklyn Nets draft picks, and reportedly included swingman Jae Crowder - but not before reportedly putting a good scare into the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

"The Cavs were on pins and needles yesterday about the Celtics (possibly) getting Paul George or Jimmy Butler," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Lowe Post podcast Friday. "Pins and needles."

The Cavs lead the Celtics by four games for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and with a third of the season remaining, appear to be the clear favorite to repeat as conference champs. But there are also some reasons for concern, like Kevin Love's knee surgery, the still-patchy wing rotation amidst J.R. Smith's ongoing absence, and the fact that a 32-year-old LeBron James ranks second in the NBA in minutes per game.

"If it's Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, and Jimmy Butler, the Cavs might be out there saying, 'We might have to trade Kevin Love,'" Windhorst surmised.

The Cavs can breathe a sigh of relief for now, but the Celtics will get another chance to close the gap in the summer, when they can carve out max cap space and potentially wind up with the No. 1 pick in the draft.