Boston Celtics: 5 wildly ambitious free agency targets in next 3 years
Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans
When he’ll be available: Free agent in 2020 (player option) or 2021
It’s no secret that the Celtics are particularly interested in adding Anthony Davis to their lineup, one way or another. They’ve previously been mentioned in trade rumors, seemingly seeing the New Orleans Pelicans’ unique big man as the missing piece to their puzzle.
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The only real problem right now is the fact that waiting for him may take too long. It’s unclear how wide Boston’s window is to make a legitimate run at the NBA Finals. Davis won’t hit the open market until 2020 at the earliest, at which point the Pelicans will do everything in their power to re-sign him.
Chances are New Orleans won’t make him available for trade. Davis is the best player the franchise has seen in some time, and letting him go would only make them even more of an inept squad. Unless the Celtics were to put together some mind-blowing offer, I don’t see the Pelicans parting with the Brow anytime soon.
Still, if Boston wants to play the waiting game, Davis will be available eventually. By 2020, both Horford and Hayward could potentially be off the books for the Celtics. That would potentially leave them with more than enough cap space to get a deal done for the former No. 1 overall pick.
I believe bringing Davis to Bean Town is a pipe dream at best. I find it very hard to believe the Pelicans let him leave, but stranger things have happened. If they can’t put together a competitive group in the next couple of seasons, don’t be surprised if he joins a contender come 2020.