NBA 2018-19: 3 Players the Boston Celtics would have to give up to trade for Anthony Davis

#2 Jaylen Brown

Brown had a breakthrough season last year

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

The Celtics would surely be unwilling to trade Irving for Davis

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'.