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Danny Ainge is a shark.
The Boston Celtics' general manager and president of basketball operations hasn't been shy to pull the trigger on deals, especially if the proposition is of the groundbreaking variety.
Ainge brought in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007. He traded Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets for a lifetime of lottery picks in 2013. Not so long ago, he scooped up Gordon Hayward in free agency. And most recently, the ever-cunning front office executive sent Isaiah Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.
All these moves have altered the Celtics' direction, and there's no reason for him to stop. Danny Ainge has at his disposal a treasure trove of assets. Last year, he had his eyes fixated on New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis and that hasn't changed up to now, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Davis isn't exactly in the most favorable situation with the Pelicans. While no drama has come out of their camp, the uncertainty surrounding the organization's future remains cloudy. DeMarcus Cousins will enter unrestricted free agency come summertime and Rajon Rondo, who's experiencing some sort of a resurgence, is guaranteed to stay for only one year.
This puts Anthony Davis in a situation that could very well boil down to dissatisfaction, unless the Pelicans front office pulls off some major moves to stabilize the team's direction.
This is where Danny Ainge comes in. Davis won't enter free agency until 2021 and he has yet to enter his prime. This is the kind of talent that gets someone like Ainge to seriously reassess his chips. He will continue to keep tabs on the Pelicans' pulse, waiting for the right moment or situation to develop before coming in with an offer.
If that happens, the Celtics would be placing the entire NBA on notice.
