The Boston Celtics are planning to pursue big man Anthony Davis mid-season if his partnership with DeMarcus Cousins with the New Orleans Pelicans fails. According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical, some NBA executives believe the Celtics will be keeping a close watch on the Davis-Cousins tandem with the Pelicans next season. Mannix said if the season goes out of control, the Celtics are expected to make a strong run at Davis, who is under contract until 2020.
The Celtics were the biggest winner in the Gordon Hayward sweepstakes, signing the former Utah Jazz star to a four-year, $128 million deal that has turned them into one of the big contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Acquiring Davis will make the Celtics at par with the Cleveland Cavaliers in terms of talent. The 24-year-old Davis, a four-time All-Star, will be a tremendous upgrade to the Celtics’ frontcourt.
The future looks bright for the Pelicans as they will have a formidable Big 3 in Davis, Cousins and Jrue Holiday, who recently signed a five-year, $126 million contract that could increase to $150 million due to incentives. New Orleans also agreed with veteran point guard Rajon Rondo on a one-year contract.
Pelicans own one of best frontcourts
With Davis and Cousins, the Pelicans own one of the best frontcourt duos in the NBA but they have yet to play a whole season together. Cousins was acquired by the Pelicans in February’s trade deadline in the hope that he could help the Pelicans in the playoff race but they sputtered in the homestretch and finished with a 34-48 mark.
Cousins has one year remaining in the four-year, $65.6 million deal that he signed with the Sacramento Kings. However, he has no plan to sign a long-term extension with the Pelicans, who may pull the trade trigger if Cousins has no plan of staying. However, it will be a longshot that the Pelicans will part ways with Davis, who signed a five-year, $127 million deal with the team last season and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
Celtics eyed Davis before 2017 NBA Draft
This was not the first time that the Celtics were reportedly eyeing Davis. Before the 2017 NBA Draft, Mannix reported that the “would love to have their hands” on the 24-year-old Davis by trading No. 3 pick and the 2018 high pick to the Pelicans. Davis was the first overall pick of the Pelicans in the 2012 NBA Draft. Last season, Davis averaged 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 75 games.
