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It was reported earlier this week that New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis is open to joining the Boston Celtics. However, competition for the 25-year-old's signature is likely to be intense over the coming months, as the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks have all been linked with trading for the 5-time NBA All-Star.
There are no guarantees that Davis will move this season, as the center would have to request a trade, and this seems unlikely due to the player's close bond with the city of New Orleans. Nevertheless, anything is possible in the NBA, and the Celtics are better equipped than any other team to make a trade.
If the Celtics are able to pull off an incredible move for Davis, the franchise will have to give up a lot of players, and here are three of the most notable.
#3 Terry Rozier
The Pelicans lost starting point guard Rajon Rondo during the 2018 off-season, so the franchise will want a new guard as part of any trade for Davis. Terry Rozier is currently earning just $3,050,389 this season, making him an attractive option for the Pelicans.
Rozier is just 24 years old, and the young point-guard offers a potentially huge upside. 'Scary Terry' is reportedly disappointed with his current playtime in Boston, so a trade would be beneficial to both the Pelicans and the player himself.
#2 Jaylen Brown
Anthony Davis is under contract with the Pelicans until at least the summer of 2020, and this puts the franchise in a strong position to demand some of the Celtics' best assets in return for the 25-year-old. Boston will not want to trade either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, but one of this pair would have to be included in order to entice the Pelicans into a trade.
Brown is the most likely candidate, as Tatum seems likely to be the future face of the Boston franchise. The 22-year-old Brown averaged 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season, so it would be a huge blow for the Celtics to give up such a promising young talent.
Nevertheless, it is a sacrifice that Boston would have to make in order to have any shot at signing Davis.
#1 Kyrie Irving
Despite mounting speculation that the Celtics are readying a move for Anthony Davis, one huge obstacle still stands in the way - the Rose Rule. The rule dictates that the Celtics cannot trade for Davis this season unless Kyrie Irving moves in the opposite direction. This means that if a trade to bring Davis to the Celtics is agreed, it will be one of the biggest deals in NBA history.
Kyrie Irving himself would likely be hesitant to join the New Orleans Pelicans, although stranger things have happened in the NBA. And when they reflect on the full ramifications of the whole deal, the Celtics would likely balk at giving up so many assets in return for Davis.
The most likely scenario is that the Celtics will wait until the off-season before making a move for Davis, as the team will no longer be handcuffed by the 'Rose Rule'.
