Boston Celtics Rumors: Anthony Davis likely to bleed green in 2019

The latest Anthony Davis rumors has the Boston Celtics as the landing spot for the All-Star big man.

As much as the Boston Celtics took their fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions during the 2018-19 NBA season, expect the summer of 2019 to be just as nauseating.

The only question at the end of this ride will be whether it’s full of excitement and fist pumping or will the future of the team be puked down the drain.  That pretty much sums up the latest Anthony Davis rumors.

It seems every time the team and fans get discouraging news about the desired destination of Kyrie Irving, encouraging news surfaces about Mr. Davis and what the New Orleans Pelicans plan to do regarding a trade (and they are taking calls for the big man).

With the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and perhaps some mystery team no one is talking about in the mix, the following report has your Boston Celtics as the team that can present the best package centered around two players the Pelicans value.

Check this tweet out from NBC NOLA sports reporter Fletcher Mackel:

Can the Knicks, Lakers or Nets beat that package?  It depends on whether the Pelicans feel RJ Barrett or Brandon Ingram can be a better overall commodity than Jayson Tatum.

The wild card in this proposed deal would be Marcus Smart.  While the All-Star potential of Tatum is a huge risk, giving up the heart and intensity of Smart would be a gamble.  If Davis signs long-term, this is a no-brainer, but if he doesn’t end up bleeding green like Kevin Garnett bought into back in the day, then Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics are wagering the future for a one-year rental.

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Now anything and everything will probably happen between these latest rumors and what happens before July 1, but the Celtics figure to be major players in where Anthony Davis goes.  It sounds like if he does not end up in Boston, it will be because the Celtics back away.

All those reports about Ainge building about Tatum and Jaylen Brown sound like a bargaining piece in trade talks to perhaps lower what David Griffin and the Pelicans may be asking for.  They may get Tatum or Brown, but they won’t get both unless Anthony Davis decides he likes the idea of spending the next 5 or 6 seasons bleeding the green and white of a historic franchise.

What it means for Kyrie Irving

This deal may lead to Kyrie Irving staying in Boston despite all the Brooklyn Nets rumors, but it could also mean that the Boston Celtics have another superstar in mind to pair with Anthony Davis and Gordon Hayward.

If Irving stays, some other moves would have to be made to change the culture of the locker room.  That means perhaps a sign-and-trade type deal involving restricted free agent Terry Rozier to bring in a player or two can co-exist with Kyrie.

If Irving goes, the same scenario above could also happen to bring in another quality player.  Perhaps packaging Rozier (sign-and-trade scenario) and a that Memphis Grizzlies pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Jackson, a player Ainge considered prior to selecting Jayson Tatum.  Or there is also a player like Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets who is on the trade block.

In any event, we can trust in Danny Ainge to be a major card player and gambler this summer.  He has to be because that chest that was once filled with assets is running out and/or expiring.  It’s time for the Boston Celtics president of basketball operations to show his cards.