Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge is reportedly undeterred on making a trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, even without the assurance that he would agree to an extension with the team, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Ainge knows that if he is successful on his gambit, there is no possibility that Kyrie Irving will change his mind and leave the Celtics this summer.
The Celtics have salivated over Davis for nearly two years now and Ainge has stockpiled a war-chest's worth of first-round selections and young assets to include in a package for him.
Many executives around the league expect Davis and his agent Rich Paul to soon tell teams the Los Angeles Lakers are his preferred destination in an effort to depress the market and shrink the competition. But Boston won't be one to back off this bidding, knowing full well they can offer much more in tangible and future assets than any other team in the league can muster.
Some other teams will also be willing to take the gamble and try to sweep the rug from underneath the Lakers, regardless of whether Davis will want to stay or not.
The roll of the dice worked for a small market team in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Paul George, which set a precedent and a glimmer of hope for others hoping to add championship-level talent to their roster.
The Celtics won't be able to make an offer until July 1, due to the “Rose Rule,” which states two players (Davis and Irving) under the same contractual structure of 30 percent of the cap cannot be in the same team.
