Several NBA teams are "obsessed" with the idea of acquiring Anthony Davis if New Orleand decides to rebuild, including the Celtics, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski writes, "Davis remains an obsession of several NBA teams full of the necessary trade assets to unfasten him from New Orleans, should the Pelicans ever consider a rebuild --- or should Davis ever request a trade. Boston has remained vigilant on the possibility of acquiring Davis and Davis knows it. However, the Pelicans have no intention of trading an all-world talent under contract through 2021, no matter the return."
Davis-to-the-Celtics rumblings have existed for more than a year now. Before the Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins in a trade with the Kings, Davis asked New Orleans GM Dell Demps whether there was any truth to the Celtics rumors.
"He told me that [Boston] was calling, but nothing was going to happen," Davis said. "At the same time, though, you see how organizations treat players. Isaiah Thomas. DeMarcus [Cousins] told me that the [Kings] told him that he wasn't going to get traded, but they traded him. Isaiah took his team to the Eastern Conference finals, and they traded him.
"It makes you wonder: Does this organization really have my back? I've been loyal to this organization. I love it here. I love this team. I think we're moving in the right direction. DeMarcus, Rondo, some other players that are helping us, but people get judged on winning. And I want to win.
Davis makes it clear in Wojnarowski's piece that his No. 1 focus is on winning, and winning in a Pelicans uniform. It's not going terribly for him so far this season as New Orleans currently sits just a half game out of fifth place in the Western Conference, but if things go downhill, expect the C's to continue ringing the Pelicans' front office phone off the hook.