The Boston Celtics are still keying in on Anthony Davis despite his agent warning the team that he would be a one-year rental.
It may come down to a battle between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers for the services of big man Anthony Davis.
While the Lakers have some young assets in Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma along with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft to part with, the Celtics have the ultimate prize in Jayson Tatum the New Orleans Pelicans want.
That gives Danny Ainge an edge as far as the Pelicans are concerned. But long term, the Lakers are the more attractive team according to his agent Rich Paul.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Paul made it clear who he favors when it comes to a landing spot for his star. Of course, he can’t control where he goes via trade, but he is trying his best to deter the Celtics from even trying.
"“They can trade for him, but it’ll be for one year,” Paul said of a potential trade. “I mean: If the Celtics traded for Anthony Davis, we would go there and we would abide by our contractual [obligations] and we would go into free agency in 2020. I’ve stated that to them. But in the even that he decides to walk away and you give away assets? Don’t blame Rich Paul.”"
While its obvious Paul’s main objective is to pair Anthony Davis up with his other star player LeBron James with the Lakers, should the Boston Celtics just walk away due to his words?
It’s a risk, but the Oklahoma City Thunder took that risk with Paul George. The Toronto Raptors took that risk with Kawhi Leonard. Both could see the rewards of that risk if the Raptors win the NBA championship. In that scenario, even if Leonard leaves, it was worth the risk for the Raptors.
The Celtics appear more concerned about winning a title, even if Davis is a one-year rental. Of course, they hope to see the same results as George with the Thunder. The big man may desire L.A. but may fall in love with the championship flavor in Boston.
So, Rich Paul may consider the Los Angeles Lakers the Jennifer Lopez of basketball, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Here are three reasons the Boston Celtics are a more attractive option for Anthony Davis.
Stable management
With all the drama surrounding Magic Johnson stepping down, inner turmoil within ownership and an aging LeBron James desperate for star running mates, the Los Angeles Lakers have become an unstable landing spot for free agents in general.
There are stars like Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis himself rumored to want to be paired with LeBron, but what happens when the aging best player in basketball shows signs of decline?
Could a star like Davis then become the face of the Lakers beyond that, especially if the Lakers give up all their young players and assets to obtain him? The same could be said for the New York Knicks or Boston Celtics.
But that’s where Celtics’ ownership and Danny Ainge holds the edge. Even if the C’s depart with Jayson Tatum in a package that could see them mortgage their future, Ainge can and will maneuver ways to surround Davis with players in the long run, that includes pairing him with another big-name star in 2019.
In obtaining Davis, it may tempt Kyrie Irving back to Boston. If that happens, a potential championship run will show the big man what it’s like to play for a top contending team in the East and also show him what the championship atmosphere is like in Boston.
This could work out for Ainge in the same way it did with Kevin Garnett. Winning championships with the Celtics can cause any player to bleed green, even if they have their eyes on Hollywood.
A championship history and tradition
As mentioned in the prior slide, if Anthony Davis is chasing championships, what better place than Boston?
Yes, winters are cold and he’ll have to get use to the accents, but riding a duck boat in many parades to come could make Davis the best Boston Celtics big man since the days of Bill Russell.
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Speaking of the Celtics’ legend, just sitting down with the 11-time NBA champion would give Davis chills and a motivation to see his number up in the rafters. Now, Rich Paul says championships and tradition is a key for wanting his player in L.A, praises New York, despite their lack of championships and completely writes off the Celtics?
Hmmm, sounds like he may be afraid the Celtics will not only trade for Davis, but win him over with the banners and the success of other teams and athletes in Boston. Actually, that is exactly what Danny Ainge is banking on.
In seeing how sports athletes like Kevin Garnett, Randy Moss (despite not winning a Super Bowl) and David Price has come to Boston and been on over by the fan loyalty, Mr. Paul may want to be a little more openminded when it comes to beauty and focus on what’s going to make his client legendary.
Adding his name to the tradition of Boston Celtics greats will do that.
The Brad Stevens factor
So, Kyrie Irving and his isolation style didn’t mesh too well with the system of Brad Stevens.
If Irving leaves, the word around the NBA would be whether the young coach is capable of coaching and managing the big stars and personalities that run the league. The 2018-19 season was certainly a learning experience for Stevens. He has taken the blame with how the season went and will certainly grow from it.
Now, when it comes to Anthony Davis, Stevens can find ways to make the big man even more affective in his pace-and-space style. Like Al Horford, plays can run through Davis. Stevens will also find ways to utilize Davis’ ability to hit long range shots.
Along with being long, athletic and a rim protector, Anthony Davis is exactly the kind of stretch big man Stevens loves to run his offense around. Now, the challenge would be in what Danny Ainge surrounds Davis with. With that, the young Boston Celtics coach will have to really show off his coaching ability.
Can he find ways to make Anthony Davis an even more effective player?
Meaning, can he transcend Davis into a consistent triple-double threat on a nightly basis? With what he has done with big men of lesser talent, the answer to that is yes if “The Brow” buys into the system. There is no reason to think that he won’t, especially once the city of Boston gets behind him.
Now, Lakers fans can dispute every reason given. It’s a great rivalry and much respect is given to their championship history and tradition. So, the ball is in your court L.A. Sports Hub.