The Celtics should be regarded as favorites to trade for Pelicans star Anthony Davis, an NBA insider tells Fletcher Mackel of WDSU in New Orleans (Twitter link). According to the source, Jayson Tatum tops the Pelicans’ wish list, and new head of basketball operations David Griffin likes Marcus Smart as well. Robert Williams, Semi Ojeleye and Guerschon Yabusele could help fill out the deal, along with at least this year’s first-round pick, which falls at No. 14.
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (appearing on The Sedano Show podcast) suggested the Lakers could still be in the running for Davis if they are willing to offer the same package they did at the trade deadline. McMenamin says several people he talked to in the Pelicans’ organization would love to have Brandon Ingram and wanted to take the Lakers’ proposal at the time. GM Dell Demps, who turned down the offer, has since been fired.
The Celtics’ prospects for Davis will depend on whether Griffin believes Ingram has a brighter future than Tatum and if he might be more intrigued by R.J. Barrett, which would bring the Knicks into play with their No. 3 pick, writes John Karalis of MassLive.
There’s more news out of Boston:
- President of basketball operations Danny Ainge is confident that Gordon Hayward will return to an All-Star level next season, relays Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Hayward was inconsistent this year as he worked his way back from a devastating ankle injury, but Ainge believes another offseason to recover will help. “I’m really excited for Gordon’s upcoming season,” Ainge said. “He’s working hard right now in the gym. He’s here every day with five or six coaches and bodies out there working extremely hard. He’s put a lot of time in. I’m anticipating great things from Gordon this next year.”
- In a separate story, Forsberg looks at a few point guards the Celtics could target in the draft if they don’t expect to re-sign free agents Kyrie Irving or Terry Rozier. Forsberg states that Boston could try to trade up for North Carolina’s Coby White or stay at No. 14 and target Virginia’s Ty Jerome, Purdue’s Carsen Edwards, Mississippi’s Terence Davis, Tennessee’s Jordan Bone or Brewster Academy’s Jalen Lecque. The Celtics also own picks No. 20 and 22 in the first round.
- Connecticut guard Jalen Adams worked out for the Celtics yesterday, tweets Chris Grenham of NESN.
Tatum, Smart, Zion and Holiday would be a deadly good core. Although if I were the Pelicans I would try to convert Holiday into some younger players and/or future picks
I read some Jrue to Suns rumours and I think it makes quite a bit of sense
Bridges would be a nice starting point for a Suns trade.
Nah, you need a prime player in the mix to keep from wasting years on a kid’s show.
I doubt thats what it would take but if Ainge was desperate enough to give all that up for AD might be time for me to find another team to root for.
Soft
Don’t bring AD, he’s a rental and a mediocre leader. Run it back, let the youngsters develop and explore other trade options that may come in the future.
Agree
Forget the ATL trade. Sign and trade D-Lo to Celtics for Irving.
Agree sign and trade Irving for somebody.
Sign & trade doesn’t exist any more dudes, can ya’ll please stop saying that? Can’t remember the last time it happened one of those, it really annoys me!!!
Hayward to Boston was a sign and trade wasn’t it?
CP3 to Houston.
He was a FA, not a S & T
I meant Hayward was a FA… but yes CP3 was a S & T, but what I am trying to say is that maybe happens 1 every few years now, so is not much of a normal/realistic option, very rare, but fans keep talking like they happen all the time, or it is a normal option.
You’re right, it’s a rarity, almost a loophole, and there may be some buyer’s remorse about using it in the CP3 case. Not a model to inspire confidence for future use!
CP3 wasn’t technically a sign-and-trade — he exercised his player option and then was dealt in a normal trade.
I actually have a post coming soon (likely next week) about how rare sign-and-trades are. There have been four from 2015-18, mostly for role players.
Yessssss!!!! D-lo turned into a balling GOD last year.
Let’s review: AD said knicks or lakers. Anybody else would be foolish. Take Celtics off the list. They don’t do short term rentals.
danny ainge traded marcus thorton for IT3 for kyrie irving – basically turned trash into gold. don’t be surprised if danny trades for AD and Beal, and lands durant – fill the voids with whatever’s left.
They don’t have enough ammo to trade for both AD and Beal without trading all picks, Tatum, Smart, and Brown. And probably guys with an ounce of value like Williams, Yabu, and Ojeleye. And you’d have to trade out Hayward probably, and then clear any salary left to sign KD. You’d be signing 10 guys to minimum salary contracts in all likelihood… plus one guy gets the room exception.
you’re right the price will be high. extending horford was a sign c’s want two big chips – somehow he’ll find a way.
Sounds like Griffin’s lackeys are getting some stuff out there to get a pre-draft market started with the Celtics and Lakers eyeing each other. What “NBA adviser” (other than one with an agenda) would talk about where Boston stands relative to dealing for AD, without mentioning the Boston-KI situation? Unless Ingram’s mom is in the Pels FO, McMenamin is either lying or being played too.
Ha, he’s a clever one, is Griffin.
Griffin was spurred to action by the BRK/ATL trade and its effect in Boston, feeling Irving slipping away. A trade for AD could stop that. Griffin’s going to get an offer from them soon with a little encouragement, maybe after hearing some Laker rumblings also…
Maybe a trade AD would keep KI, maybe it wouldn’t. IMO, Celts will pursue the deal “on the chance” but they won’t consummate the deal “on the chance” – they’ll know what KI thinks about it and him before finalizing it. I continue to believe we’ll be reading (by the end of next weekend) about a significant offer from the Celtics, that includes Tatum. An offer that registers with Griffin and is reported as such allows Ainge to approach KI with something new. Griffin wins either way. If KI gives a thumbs up, he does the Celtic deal (+/-). If KI says no (leaving any way), he now has a 3rd party template for his July bidders. Celtics acquire AD with KI on board prior to June 30th or they’re out.
Why would BK landing Taurean Prince put them at risk of losing Irving? Irving might be gone anyways but I don’t see how the Crabbe/Prince trade makes it more likely.
It cleared space for 2 max players in Broklyn. That is something Irving is interested in.
If we get AD why not Julius Randle too in a Celtics/Pelicans trade. C’s could also include 4 draft picks in that deal plus Rozier
Randle is going to opt out
pels prolly want to add a bad contract in AD’s trade