Should Pelicans’ David Griffin trade Anthony Davis to the Boston Celtics?

David Griffin, the newly anointed Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, has his work cut out for him. His first task: finding the best possible package for Anthony Davis.

Well, we now know the man who’s going to orchestrate Anthony Davis’ official departure from the New Orleans Pelicans. But the question is, who is David Griffin going to deal with to get the trade done? There are multiple suitors looking to acquire the disgruntled superstar, but who represents the best possible offer for Davis’ services?

Celtics’ stockpiled assets

In this instance, let’s revisit the Boston Celtics scenario. When the Celtics turned away from their aging stars—who brought them back to glory for the first time since the Larry Bird era— they received a package that would set them up for the future. They had turned veterans well past their primes into a multitude of future first-round draft picks. Now, with some of the assets they acquired from Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Memphis—they’re looking to construct a super team to get back to the NBA Finals.

Yet thus far, they have seemingly been overwhelmed in their conquest of a championship. Despite those lop-sided trades in their favor, they have been disappointing, failing to put together a meaningful playoff run yet. However, Celtics GM Danny Ainge will not go down quietly. And now that we have bypassed a silly NBA rule that disallowed a trade offer during the regular season, Ainge appears all in on a trade for Davis.

So what could the Celtics actually be willing to send the Pelicans?

How the trade could look

So, what exactly does this entail for the New Orleans Pelicans? It’s never ideal to lose a franchise superstar, especially one that is still only 25-years-old. But the package that Boston could offer the Pelicans would soften the blow significantly. All those aforementioned draft assets the Celtics have acquired over the past half-decade could be thrown at New Orleans in a package for Davis.

Potentially, the trade could look something like the following:

This would be a haul, but AD is that type of player, especially if Boston has any sort of confidence that he’d re-sign next summer.

How the Pelicans benefit from the trade

Solomon Hill in the package helps out the logistics of the trade. Plus, it would help to get out of the remainder of that contract, even if it only has a year left on it.  Jaylen Brown in spurts has looked like a future two-way star in the making. He’s had his share of struggles, but finding a way to incorporate your offense with a team that’s incredibly deep with players that all want their fair share of touches is difficult. However, his efficiency ascended in the latter half of the season. For the month of March, he averaged 14 points on 50% from the field and 42% from distance.

Jayson Tatum appears to be a victim of tremendous pressure applied to a player much too soon. That happens when you’re on a contending team and have already shown signs that you’re going to be the NBA’s next superstar. His game still needs to mature, but what’s transpiring in Boston could just be situational. If given an opportunity to develop his game organically, Tatum could still get to the ceiling fans envisioned after the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.

Marcus Smart is a player you love to have on your team and hate to play against. He’s all heart and passion, and there’s no quit in his game, no matter what the circumstances. He defends at an elite level, and he hustles for every loose ball. What Smart does on the basketball court is contagious. It causes others to elevate their effort levels. He’s the ideal role player for an NBA rebuild. He brings toughness and grit to the locker room as well as much needed experience from the big games he’s played in over the years.

Here’s what David Griffin had to say on an NBATV interview back in January when the AD trade demand surfaced:

You’d be hardpressed to find a package that embodies that message more than what Boston might offer the Pelicans. Smart represents that elite role player, Tatum the potential star, with Jaylen Brown still at the young age of 22, and the obvious youth of the aforementioned draft selections.

If this version of an Anthony Davis trade is executed, the New Orleans Pelicans are in an excellent position moving forward. Multiple lottery picks and the potential of a young core that can grow together under the guidance of Alvin Gentry would be a great first move for David Griffin.