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New Orleans Pelicans: 3 trade possibilities for Anthony Davis

By Justin Benton

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 18: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 18, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 18: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 18, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. Boston Celtics

It is well known that the Boston Celtics have immense interest in making a trade for Davis. With a rich arsenal of young players and draft picks, they may be the most well-equipped to do so. They face an interested speed bump, however.

The Rose Rule in the current CBA prevents the team from having two players on their roster acquired via trade that signed max-level rookie extensions. Kyrie Irving marked the first, so his presence on the roster makes trading for Davis impossible. If the Celtics wanted to make sure they were able to get AD locked down now, though, the have an option in trading away Kyrie.

The possibility that Irving may not re-sign with the Celtics has been feeling more likely to some around the league lately. That, along with the possibility that moving on from him could help spur more rapid development in their young players, could lead GM Danny Ainge to make a risky move and deal Kyrie in favor for Anthony Davis.

It would be unlikely that the soon-to-be free agent Kyrie Irving would re-sign in New Orleans, so the plan would need to be sending him to a third team where he would probably stick around long-term. When requesting a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, Irving named four teams he would like to go to. One of those makes sense in this scenario: the San Antonio Spurs.

This three-team trade would give the Spurs a go-to star they could build the franchise around without having to miss out on any success in the present. The Boston Celtics would receive their big man in Anthony Davis and get to pair him alongside the young core that was a game away from an NBA Finals appearance last season. The New Orleans Pelicans would get two young players that have fantastic potential, some late first round picks for the upcoming draft, and a proven All-Star level player in DeMar DeRozan.

Next. 10 potential Anthony Davis trades. dark

This trade makes the most sense for the Pelicans if they desire to maintain relevancy as well as bring in young talent. DeRozan has enough time left on his contract to be moved again down the road if they would like, but would allow them to still showcase a marketable player while they rebuild using the two young players acquired in the trade as well as their own pick, which will likely be lottery-bound.

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