One of the more anticipated NBA free agency periods in recent history is set to begin at midnight tonight. Though we’re still hours away, free agency has already been filled with disappointments for the Boston Celtics and their fans.

All offseason, the Celtics have vowed to be aggressive and to pursue elite talent. Despite a poor history in attracting prized free agents, the team has flexible cap space, young talent and a young head coach who appears to be making his mark on the NBA. The combination of these things had the Celtics and their fans feeling like this year would be different. This was going to be the year where they would finally make a splash in free agency.

However, given the events of the past 24 hours, it appears that splash is going to resemble something more of a pencil dive than a cannon ball.

Names like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan and Kevin Love have been kicked around. The fact that the Celtics were reportedly going to target these free agents was cause for excitement in Boston. Well, that excitement appears to be coming to a screeching halt.

It started with Adam Himmelsbach’s report in the Boston Globe that quoted a team source as saying when it comes to the top free agents, “a lot won’t move, it’s going to be tough.” Well that’s okay, of course it’s going to be tough. These are some of the best players in the NBA, so there’s certainly going to be some competition for their services. I, along with many Celtics fans, kept the faith.

Then this…

So, LaMarcus visit order again, starting Tue at 9 PDT: LAL, HOU, SA, PHO, DAL, TOR, NYK. (No need 2 meet with POR; they’re already offered.)

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 30, 2015

I think you left out a team… no? Oh. It’s disappointing, but landing Aldridge was the best-case scenario for the Celtics. It may have been a bit unrealistic. Well, let’s focus on a more realistic target. What about Greg Monroe?

The Celtics were expected to compete with the New York Knicks for Monroe. Then Marc Berman of the New York Post reported this little nugget. “Monroe said he would also meet with the Lakers, Blazers, Bucks and Celtics, but a league source said Boston is already out of the running.”

Oh. But wait, there’s more. This, most recently from ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

Sources: After CHI offered @JimmyButler max 5/$90-plus Mon, JB postponed meeting w/LAL, BOS, PHI, DAL. JB deciding how many yrs 2 sign w/CHI

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 30, 2015

Are you kidding me? I didn’t know the Celtics were even in on Butler.

There are obviously still plenty of free agents out there that would be nice additions for the Celtics. Tobias Harris, Robin Lopez and Paul Millsap to name a few, but these names aren’t nearly as exciting. It’s just an unfortunate start to a free agency period that hasn’t even technically started yet.

Danny Ainge better start working on some trade offers. It looks like it’s going to be another unsuccessful free agency for the Celtics (sigh).

Derek McVay is a Boston Celtics beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mcvay34, or add him to your network on Google.