NBA Rumors: Lakers Want Kyrie To Leave Celtics, Helps Anthony Davis Pursuit

Anthony Davis is going to be one of the most sought after players this summer after he requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. He was hoping to leave before the trade deadline on Feb. 7 but the team decided to wait until the summer before deciding his next move and it was mainly done due to the interest from Boston Celtics.

The Pelicans power forward wants to join a team where he can challenge for NBA titles, but owing to him having one more year on his contract until he can become a free agent, the Pelicans will decide his next destination.

The Los Angeles Lakers were desperate to land him before the trade deadline, but all their offers, including one that consisted of five players and future draft picks were rejected by the Pelicans. They were keen to wait until the summer in the hope that many other teams will join the race to sign Davis.

The six-time NBA All-Star will not be short of suitors and the Celtics are said to be one of the main reasons the Pelicans waited until the summer. The Boston franchise has been long-time admirers of the power forward and has the assets in terms of players and draft picks that can trump any team’s offer.

However, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, their best offer is reliant on its star point guard Kyrie Irving, who will become a free agent in the summer. And if he decides to leave the team, they will be unlikely to trade their best young players for Davis, who can leave them next summer when he enters free agency.

The Lakers, who will again make a move for Davis in the summer, will be hoping that Irving leaves Celtics as it will then remove their biggest rival for the forward’s signature. But if the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard decides to remain in Boston in the long-term, they are likely to win the race for Davis.

The only other way the Celtics can match other offers without Irving is by hitting the draft lottery and are awarded one of the top picks. If they manage to land one of the top prospects like Zion Williamson or Ja Morant they can easily trade them for Davis.

"Obviously Anthony Davis wants the heck out of New Orleans, he made that incredibly clear... last night," Windhorst said on ESPN's “Get Up!”, as quoted by Express. “The Lakers really have to hope that Kyrie Irving leaves the Celtics. Why does that have something to do with it? Because for the Celtics to make their best offer, I don't think they can do it if Kyrie Irving leaves."

"You'd potentially be risking Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving for a one-year rental. I just don't think they can do it,” he explained. "If Kyrie Irving goes to the Knicks and the Celtics have to make an offer that's maybe lesser, that brings back other offers.”

"The second thing that needs to happen, they need to do whatever they can do to get up in that lottery. The lottery is their saviour. Their percentage chance is in the single digits, but if it hits it could totally change everything in the franchise. Either getting Ja Morant or Zion Williamson, or getting a pick that they could re-engage to get Anthony Davis," he added.