Celtics Warned Over Anthony Davis Trade Offer, Knicks Being Considered

The New Orleans Pelicans are busy considering trade offers for Anthony Davis after the power forward made it clear he wants out this summer. Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are said to be two teams to have met the Pelicans’ expectations with the former said to be in the driver’s seat at the moment.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the two teams are engaged in separate trade talks as Pelicans executive vice-president of basketball operations David Griffin looks to get the best deal possible. The New Orleans franchise are said to be looking for an All-Star player, a young player with All-Star potential and two first-round picks.

The Lakers are said to have offered two potential All-Stars in Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram along with their No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Kyle Kuzma is also of interest to the Pelicans, but he has been kept out of the negotiations thus far.

It is unclear what the Celtics offer entails, but they do have one of the best rosters in terms of young talent, while also possessing three first round picks in the 2019 draft. However, Davis’ agent Rich Paul has already put them on the back foot by indicating that they could be wasting their resources by trading for the power forward.

The Celtics are not on Davis’ preferred list and Paul has indicated that he is likely to be a one-year rental for the franchise as he is most likely to leave when he enters free agency in 2020. He categorically asked Boston not to blame “Rich Paul” if they trade valuable assets and then lose Davis after one season.

“They can trade for him, but it’ll be for one year,” Paul told Sports Illustrated. “I mean: If the Celtics traded for Anthony Davis, we would go there and we would abide by our contractual [obligations] and we would go into free agency in 2020. I’ve stated that to them. But in the event that he decides to walk away and you give away assets? Don’t blame Rich Paul.”

Paul is unclear where Davis will land this summer but one thing certain that whichever team he joins, the forward will enter free agency in 2020. He also seemed to confirm his preference of Lakers and Knicks, by praising the latter and admitted that his client could make New York his new home.

“Where he’s going to land? I have no idea,” Paul said. “And it don’t matter. We’re going into free agency. Why does it matter to me where he goes? Earth: We’re going into free agency. He has a year, he has to play. But after that, I can’t say it no bigger: WE ARE GOING INTO FREE AGENCY. 2020: ANTHONY DAVIS WILL BE IN FREE AGENCY. ”

“The only difference is, they don’t have as many championships as the Lakers,” Davis’ agent added. “They got a tradition. It’s a big market — not that it’s only big markets. They have cap space, flexibility, they’re able to absorb more than one star. What’s wrong with that?”