It is tough being in the position of the Boston Celtics. With a treasure trove of talent and assets, the only direction for the franchise is going up. That is pretty hard knowing that this franchise is one of the elite teams in the East. It is so hard to get higher knowing you are just too close to the top.
They are so insanely good that despite the handicap of losing their two All-stars due to injury, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, they still manage to be second in the East with a 55-27 record. Being led by their young talent in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they even endured the challenge to go deep into the playoffs.
Unfortunately, they got bumped off in the Eastern Conference Finals by a tenacious LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers. In seven games, the young Celtics definitely stood their ground and at times it seemed like that they would beat the former champions, but a playoff-hardened LeBron James is a tough obstacle to overcome even for the most talented of teams.
As the new season quickly approaches, the Celtics enter the fray fresh and reloaded with the talent they should have had last season with Irving and Hayward back in the fold. Which leads us to how can this squad continue to get better than the last? The insane answer to an absurd question, acquire Anthony Davis.
Insane, due to acquiring Anthony Davis is not even in the cards for the Boston Celtics. Not because they don’t want to, but because a league rule named the Rose Rule exists that technically prohibits the Celtics from acquiring him.
What is the Rose Rule? It rewards a player of a certain caliber of a contract that once he finishes his rookie contract he can take up 30 percent of a team’s cap space with the stipulation that he has been an All-star starter, voted twice to an All-NBA team, or won an MVP award.
The Celtics who acquired Irving in a trade last season was signed by the Cavs using the Rose Rule. It is restricted by the league to have two players of that caliber on the same team. As is, the Celtics cannot trade for fellow Rose Rule signee Anthony Davis if it pairs him with Kyrie Irving.
To go about it, let’s hypothetically assume that Anthony Davis was irked by not offering decent contracts to friends and fellow Wildcat alumnus Rajon Rondo and Boogie Cousins. Despite his recent playoff stint, he wants to win in a team and system that is built already.
On the other hand, Kyrie is seriously expressing his desire to explore his options next summer without any intentions of re-signing with Boston. Despite the reports about his plans to move to the Big Apple, he has had a long-standing fascination of being the top dog on a team. Giving free reign over a team might sway the former Cavalier star to give it a shot to follow his dream.
Instead of the planned Celtic duo of Davis and Irving, they trade Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris, and a 2019 first rounder via Philadelphia or Sacramento for Pelican All-star Anthony Davis and E’Twaun Moore.
On paper, it might be quite a haul for the Pelicans and a misstep on the Celtics part. Here are is why it is perfect for both teams.
Why this makes sense for the Celtics?
Celtic point guard Kyrie Irving is without a doubt an elite talent when healthy. In 60 games for Boston, he averaged 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals per game while firing a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc. Without him being injured in the playoffs might have changed the Celtics’ fortune en route to the Finals.
Despite the clutch shots and wicked handles, the only red flag with 26-year-old is his history of knee injuries since 2015. And for a point guard who relies on speed, lateral movement, and changing of pace, it spells trouble for him in the future.
In comparison, Pelican star big man Anthony Davis isn’t exactly the definition of injury free. On the contrary, he has had his fair share of injuries as well that would seem like a caveat in acquiring the 25-year-old. When healthy, Davis is a beast.
An easy shoo-in for the MVP conversation last season, he averaged a monster 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.6 blocks.
For these two elite players, it all boils down to contract and injury history. Irving will be opting out from his player option to get a payday without a doubt. Acquiring Davis who is locked in a longer contract gives them ample time to juggle the contracts needed. The free agency of next summer will feature high profile names like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler.
The problem with a talent-laden team is everybody needs a payday. With the Celtics ready to compete for a championship, they should be able to weed out and pay those who are moving forward with the future with them. Anthony Davis clearly fits the bill. A franchise piece alongside All-star wing Gordon Hayward, acquiring Davis fits the timeline for the veteran and younger Celtics.
Injury-wise things get interesting when Irving and Anthony Davis are compared. While Irving has an unfortunate number of chronic knee issues regarding his injuries and surgery, the All-star big man has had a slew of injuries from his quad, back, ankle, and knee.
Not stating that his injuries are better, but them being non-chronic indicates the randomness of his injuries may be due to the enormous load he had to carry for the Pelicans. With the Celtics, they can focus on his longevity throughout a season plus the amount of offensive and defensive load that he will carry will be totally different with the talent that is on this team.
It is also good to note that Al Horford may join the free agent summer next year. Having a talent like Davis eases the potential loss of the Boston big man.
Losing up and coming star Jaylen Brown will definitely hurt the team, but with Jayson Tatum already ready to start since day one, the transition won’t be that hard for the Celtics.
Morris is a movable serviceable piece, while the pick will only hold value based on the production of the prospect picked. Coming from the Kings makes it more desirable, yielding a higher lottery placement compared if it would come from the 76ers who are playoff bound.
Having Moore in the Celtic uniform just gives Brad Stevens another piece he can plug in to his lineups.
Why will it work for the Pelicans?
Losing franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis will hurt, but keeping him with an underwhelming team will hurt them mutually in the long run. Despite their surprising playoff run last season, it was clear that a one-man Anthony Davis army won’t get any kind of dividends with the elite teams in the West.
Moving him to Boston immediately changes all that. Getting two solid pieces in five-time All-star Kyrie Irving and his young sidekick in Jaylen Brown, they get a solid foundation for the future. Having the keys to his own kingdom, New Orleans will be a dream come true for Irving.
A small-ball lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris, and Julius Randle looks and sounds intriguing enough for the future of the Pelicans.
The acquired first rounder is a bit of a wildcard. Whether they get the Sixers or the Kings pick, either would be a useful asset to have nonetheless. Losing E’Twaun Moore will not even matter with the nice haul that they get from the Celtics.
The Pelicans do not necessarily prompt a rebuild with this trade. Although the year will be more developmental than contending with the superpowers in the West, with Irving hypothetically recommitting to the Pelicans, a high profile name or a mid-tier star would be a welcome addition to contend sooner rather than later.
Conclusion
The superstar swap between the two teams may look odd in some perspectives. Some might even disagree on the points given. Although these are completely hypothetical, it would be a good sit down talk to consider because it could actually work in the favor of both teams.
With Davis getting a solid team which does not require him to do most of the heavy lifting, we may see a better and more durable version of him that may carry forward as the future of the Celtics. His addition may rival the Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors situation in terms of impact on the Eastern Conference landscape. They will definitely be the favorites to win it all in the East.
Furthermore, the Irving move to the Pelicans gives him that leadership mantle that he has always been craving for. Being the main act with a decent supporting cast, he can finally call a team his own.
The New Orleans franchise focuses on long-term success rather than current playoff exploits that would definitely fall short in the deep Western Conference. Pulling the trigger on this trade, the Pelicans would be a few roster moves back on the playoff saddle once again.
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