Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics rumors: Anthony Davis on team's trade wish list?

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:51 a.m. ET

Fansided, Gil Alcaraz IV/FanSided via Hoops Habit

Of all the names popping up in the latest NBA trade rumors, Anthony Davis getting interest from the Boston Celtics is among the most intriguing.

There are a lot of rumors going around about the Boston Celtics right now. One of the more thought-provoking ones out there is the idea that general manager Danny Ainge has New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis on his list of trade targets.

As if the team's interest in players like Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin and Paul George isn't enough, Davis may be the most exciting of the bunch.

Here's this little tidbit, courtesy of The Vertical's Chris Mannix:

"Is a blockbuster, player-heavy deal in the offing? As of now, league sources told The Vertical that isn't the case. Boston – everyone, really – would love to get its hands on Anthony Davis. But Davis is tied to a manageable contract through 2021, and the Pelicans appear committed to giving the Davis-DeMarcus Cousins pairing a full season together."

While it makes sense to have interest, a potential trade for Davis seems highly unlikely at best. Not only is he the Pelicans' best player, but he's arguably one of the NBA's top all-around big men. Realistically, New Orleans would be crazy to part with him. And yet here we are, talking about this as if it's a thing.

The other part of the puzzle here is the DeMarcus Cousins part. The Pelicans swung a deal with the Sacramento Kings to secure the dominant center at the 2017 trade deadline. Although they didn't exactly trade a king's ransom for Boogie, it was a noteworthy investment. My guess is they at least want to give the Davis-Cousins connection a year before throwing in the towel.

Davis is coming off another sensational season for the Pelicans. Averaging 28 points and 11.8 rebounds per game (both career-highs), he was one of the lone bright spots on an otherwise abysmal New Orleans roster. However, the franchise is eager to see what the future holds for the outstanding two-way star.

If the Celtics were to somehow acquire him, though, he'd be a huge asset for one of the Eastern Conference's top clubs. He'd immediately step in as the starting power forward, forming a terrific frontcourt duo with Al Horford. He'd give the Celtics a dominant paint presence who can score in bunches while also making life difficult for opposing scorers. It's no wonder Ainge and co. are interested in bringing him aboard.

No matter what sort of offer Boston threw at New Orleans, I doubt they'd accept a deal. Even with a plethora of first round picks in the next three years, it would likely take all of them to pry Davis away from the Pelicans. And as tempting as it sounds, that would never happen.

Realistically, trading for Anthony Davis is nothing more than a pipe dream. No amount of future first-round picks is going to be enough to steal one of the game's best big men.

It's a nice thought, but nothing will come of this.