With the Pelicans and Celtics set to square off tonight, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com wonders what sort of trade package it might take to land Anthony Davis if New Orleans ever decided to blow things up and make the former No. 1 pick available. Noting that Boston is one of the few teams with the assets to make a realistic trade proposal, Forsberg suggests the team would have to offer Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley, the Nets’ 2017 and 2018 first-round picks, and another first-rounder to the Pelicans for Davis, who would likely be tied to Omer Asik‘s contract.
Of course, there has been no indication that the Pelicans are considering moving Davis, who is locked up for several more seasons, so Forsberg’s piece is merely an exercise in speculation. But as he points out, the Celtics appear to be holding onto most of their trade assets in the hopes that a star becomes available, so the club is likely monitoring any and every situation where that’s possible.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- The Knicks are “a wreck until they prove otherwise,” according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, who identifies the five most important issues the team must address in order to improve. Among the Knicks’ problems, in Bondy’s view? Joakim Noah hasn’t been protecting the rim effectively, and Derrick Rose has been too tentative.
- Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe takes a look at the continued growth of Celtics 2014 first-rounder James Young, while Brian Lewis of The New York Post examines the development of Nets 2015 first-rounder Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Young had his fourth-year option for 2017/18 turned down by Boston last month, while Brooklyn exercised Hollis-Jefferson’s ’17/18 option.
- Current Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, who was on Brett Brown‘s staff last season, has plenty of praise for the Sixers‘ young talent. As Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle details, D’Antoni is high on Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, neither of whom played for the 76ers last season. “It’s hard to win with young guys,” D’Antoni said. “It’s a hard league to do that no matter what. Once you get them, they are still young. You have to have patience.”
- Earlier today, we passed along a few interesting comments from Knicks president Phil Jackson.
I think Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, the rights to Guerschon Yabesele and/or Ante Zizic, both Brooklyn picks and a Celtics pick for Anthony Davis and Omer Asik would be enough.
Still not enough, Bradley would be involved
Another delusional Celtics fan. lmfao. Let’s just add more role players!
Celtics fans are famous for being delusional. Lets trade 87 role players for arguably the youngest best player in the NBA lmfao.
It got them Ray Allen and it got them Kevin Garnett.
I thought the Knicks were a superstar team. Them, The Warriors and Cleveland???
If Anthony Davis were made available, the Sixers would offer everything they have not named Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
To have a core of Simmons, Davis and Embiid, Philadelphia could give Dario Saric, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, PHI17, PHI19, PHI20.
They’d still have Robert Covington, LA17, SAC19, OKC20, and 2000+ second round picks, and cap space.
Ben Simmons, Miles Bridges, Robert Covington, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid.
Ha, Davis is probably the only untouchable in the league. He is like Mike Trout. You can offer the Pelicans, your whole roster and first round picks and be declined legitimately.
And look where it’s gotten them. LOL.