Boston Celtics rumors: Anthony Davis addresses potential deal to Boston
The Boston Celtics have high interest in big man Anthony Davis, but will the rumors eventually die or will the Pelicans young star eventually become available?
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge never shies away from making a blockbuster trade. Just look at this past summer when dealer Danny acquired four-time All Star guard Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick.
Despite the team’s 26-7 start, don’t think for one second Ainge wouldn’t swing another deal if one Anthony Davis suddenly became available.
Reminiscent of his pursuit for Kevin Garnett prior to the 2008 season, if Ainge wants a player badly enough, it usually happens…eventually. Given the fact that he has the assets in draft picks and a couple young talented players to bring to the dealing table, a Davis-to-Boston deal is not a matter of if, but when.
Of course, that “when” depends on how things go in New Orleans, a place Davis says he loves and is loyal to. But, is New Orleans loyal to Anthony Davis? With recent trades that seen Boston ship Thomas to Cleveland and the Kings ship current teammate DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans, the Kentucky Wildcats alum is not ruling out anything when it comes to his future.
"“He told me that [Boston] was calling, but nothing was going to happen,” Davis told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “At the same time, though, you see how organizations treat players. Isaiah Thomas. DeMarcus [Cousins] told me that the [Kings] told him that he wasn’t going to get traded, but they traded him. Isaiah took his team to the Eastern Conference finals, and they traded him.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"
Davis went on to admit that he wonders if his current team actually, really has his back. He knows as long as the Pelicans are winning, the rumors will die. But, if the team fails to make the playoffs and seem hopeless in doing so, the 24-year-old Davis will become a valuable commodity in rebuilding the franchise.
That’s where a team like the Celtics come in. Again, they have the draft picks and a player like Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum would be intriguing for the Pelicans. And then, of course, Davis would have to want to play in Boston. Signed through 20201, Ainge would take a major risk giving up such assets for a player who may not commit long term. But, his desire to win could solve that problem.
"“Winning. That’s it. That’s how you’re judged,” Davis continued. “You can score, you can dominate. You can do whatever. But they calculate everything off winning. You know what. I know that. Everybody in the league knows that. I hear it all the time: ‘Anthony is a good player, but he hasn’t won anything. He’s not a winner. He hasn’t been to the playoffs in two years.”"
Related Story: Anthony Davis in a Boston Celtics uniform would be simply amazing
A dream team scenario
The winning Davis refers to would take care of itself if he inserted his 25 points and 10 rebounds to a team that has an All Star with NBA championship experience, another All Star hungry to breakout and a young coach in Brad Stevens who would put him in the best position to get even better.
In fact, a three-headed monster of Irving, Gordon Hayward and Davis would put the Celtics on the level of the Golden State Warriors depending on their supporting cast. In a scenario where either Brown or Tatum is included in the deal, the player who remains will play a key role in forming a four-headed monster.
Next: Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier’s game-winning dunk heard around the world
Whether that player is Tatum or Brown remains to be debated, but any sign of a Pelicans collapse this season, could further strengthen what Ainge has already built in Boston.
Like Garnett, Hayward and a lesser degree Kyrie Irving, Danny Ainge typically gets his man. It will be interesting to see when that is.