Report: Anthony Davis doesn’t view Celtics as ‘long-term destination’
In what has to be the worst news Danny Ainge has heard all millennium, the Boston Celtics are not considered a long-term destination for disgruntled Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Sources @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: The Boston Celtics aren't a preferred destination long-term for New Orleans star Anthony Davis, and in Davis’ mind, remain a rental option.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2019
With Davis formally requesting a trade out of New Orleans earlier this week, the Celtics have reportedly preached patience to the Pelicans (asking them to keep Davis until the summer), and let them know that ‘everybody besides Kyrie Irving’ is available in a possible trade for Davis. That request comes due to the fact that the Celtics would not be able to deal for Davis until July 1 if the trade does not involve Irving thanks to the league’s Rose Rule.
The Celtics, of course, have been prepped for The Brow’s exit for some time now, though this latest news wherein Davis doubts a long-term future in Boston could complicate the anything-but-Kyrie package Ainge would entertain.
Per Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are viewed as the preferred long-term landing spot for the 25-year-old Davis, along with the New York Knicks, who just unloaded Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks and are prepared to spend big in search of forming a new superteam this summer.
If you’re looking for potential positives amid the downer Davis news, it feels worth mentioning that is not the first time that Ainge and the Celtics have been told that a megastar did not want to come to Boston. The last time this happened was back in 2007 when Kevin Garnett informed the team he had no interest in being traded from Minnesota to Boston. Garnett was later traded to Boston, obviously, and helped the Celtics capture their 17th NBA championship in June 2008.
There’s also to be said for the Celtics, with a bevy of young players and boatload of draft pick capital, can beat almost any offer thrown the Pelicans’ way, and that they would have a year to sell Davis on a long-term future at TD Garden.