Celtics Should Offer Pelicans The Motherload To Acquire Davis

                Is it even possible to land New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Anthony Davis in a trade? After all, the budding superstar is arguably the best big man in basketball. The 6'10'' Davis leads the league in blocks per game (2.5) and ranks second in points (29.1) and sixth in rebounds (12.3) per contest. His player efficiency rating (PER) of 28.3 trails only leading-MVP candidate Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

            Problem is, the Pelicans (15-24) aren’t winning and are well on their way to a second consecutive dismal season. Davis shouldn’t be held entirely at fault, though, for New Orleans’s struggles as the talent surrounding him sucks. The second-best player on the roster, Jrue Holiday, is far from a star and in the modern-day NBA, teams need at least three upper-echelon players to seriously contend. Not only does New Orleans lack a co-star for Davis, the franchise is devoid of young talent with high upside, outside of perhaps rookie guard Buddy Hield.

            Signing a five-year, $127 million extension in June 2015—then the richest contract in league history—Davis won’t be a free agent until 2021. Even with Davis under team control for another four years after this season ends, New Orleans should at least entertain offers for its superstar. The Pelicans finished with the sixth-worst record a season ago and will likely find themselves in the lottery again this spring, so the best long-term option for New Orleans may be to blow up its mess of a roster and start fresh by accumulating assets for the future. 

            With that in mind, the Boston Celtics—who always come up in trade discussions because of their treasure cove of draft picks and young talent—may be the most worthwhile trade partner for New Orleans to engage with if Davis is, by any means, on the market.

            Now one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics believe they aren't far from a championship-level squad—provided they add a premiere star to their roster. And that, of course, is easier said than done. Without grabbing another star to compliment All-Stars Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford, the Celtics will be a (significant) step behind the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers for the foreseeable future. Boston is good—just not nearly good enough to win a title.

            Acquiring Davis gives the Celtics at least a puncher's chance at upsetting the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in the East. For Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, it makes sense to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal by (finally) making use of the Nets’ first-round draft picks he obtained in the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn.

            To acquire an elite caliber player like Davis, the Celtics need to throw everything they have to offer at New Orleans. This includes parting ways with the Nets’ first-round picks in 2017 (the Celtics own the right to swap their own first-round selection with the Nets) and 2018.

            In addition to two first-round picks—with both likely to be top-10 selections at the very least—the Pelicans will also want some young talent. Shooting guard Avery Bradley, a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2016 and a candidate for 2017 All-Star Game, will be sought after by New Orleans if it ultimately decides to make a deal with Boston. Jaylen Brown—the No. 3 overall selection by Boston in the 2016 Draft—and Jae Crowder are forwards who New Orleans would love to acquire as they plan for the future.  
            Using ESPN's trade machine, a deal is constructed below between Boston and New Orleans. In addition to the aforementioned bigger-name players, the trade also jettisons Hield to Boston—as the Celtics will need to fill the void at shooting guard with Bradley’s departure—and sends Kelly Olynyk to New Orleans—which makes the trade contractually possible and gives the Pelicans a young big man who plays the same position as Davis.

The players set to be traded in the proposal deal between Boston and New Orleans are posted above. Additionally, the New Orleans Pelicans will receive the right to swap their first-round pick with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft and obtain the Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

        

            In making this deal, Boston becomes a legitimate contender for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Meanwhile, the Pelicans stockpile assets for the future, in addition to netting young talent in Brown and quality starters with Bradley and Crowder. The trade worsens the Pelicans in the short-term, a positive for a franchise (that should be) looking to completely overhaul its roster and hit rock-bottom in hopes of getting as many high-end selections in the NBA Draft as possible.

            Time for Ainge to pick up the phone and call Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps.

*Player/Team Stats accurate as of 1/12/17

Trade Review

Boston acquires: Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield

New Orleans acquires: Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Kelly Olynyk, the right to swap its first-round pick with the Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft and the Nets' 2018 first-round pick