NBA Trade Rumors: Will Anthony Davis Ever End Up With the Boston Celtics?
Celtics have reportedly maintained their interest in acquiring the multi-time All-Star
The Boston Celtics possess the assets to make almost any kind of deal happen. Armed with their collection of high upside young players and draft picks, if there is a star they want who is on the trading block, it is unlikely any team will be able to outbid them.
The catch for the Celtics though is that the player they want most is seemingly the one they cannot have, or at least the one they cannot acquire right now.
In a recent article, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted that the Celtics have "remained vigilant on the possibility of acquiring Davis."
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Davis is currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, and with a big assist from DeMarcus Cousins, the team is in position to make the playoffs this season.
The belief heading into the season was that the Celtics could have a shot at acquiring Davis if the Pelicans underperformed, but with the Davis and Cousins-led group pushing for a playoff berth, it seems that no deal is imminent.
There is no guarantee that the Pelicans will forever keep Davis from the trading block though.
One important thing to remember here is that the aforementioned Cousins, who is the Pelicans' other probable All-Star, is playing on an expiring contract, which means he can sign with another team as soon as next summer.
If Cousins goes, the Pelicans will once again be a team built around one star, a team that will also be facing an uphill climb in a Western Conference that could feature more good teams next year too.
The Pelicans will not bottom out even if they lose Cousins since they still have Davis, but then again, making the playoffs will be a more daunting challenge. Being mired in mediocrity is something no team wants, but that is a distinct possibility for the Pelicans if Cousins bolts.
If claiming a low playoff seed is the best the Pelicans can hope for with Davis as the lone star in the fold, then a case can be made that they will be better off trading the face of their franchise.
For this season, it does not appear as though Davis will be placed on the trading block. However, next season could be a different matter altogether, and along with the Pelicans themselves, the Celtics will likely be paying close attention.
