Boston Celtics can make trade for Anthony Davis BEFORE July despite rule - NBA insider
BOSTON CELTICS can make a trade for Anthony Davis before completing it on July 1, claims NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Celtics are one of a number of teams interested in a trade for Davis after he handed in a trade request last month.
And Wojnarowski admits the New Orleans Pelicans are resigned to the fact they will not be able to keep the 25-year-old.
“They know they’re going to have to move Anthony Davis,” he told the Dan Patrick Show.
“And I think they’re resigned to the fact that if it’s not here at the trade deadline it will be during this off-season.
Even though they technically can’t do the deal until July 1, once Kyrie Irving is a free agent, they can have an agreement in place well before then
“I don’t think they have an appetite to try to bring him back next season for the final year of his deal.
“I think they know the best possible package they could get for him is when he still has a full year left on his deal.
“Right now, and between now and the trade deadline next Thursday, they’re going to see what kinds of offers come in.
“They’re going to need to be bowled over to do a deal in the short term because they would like ultimately the best possible package for him.
“And that probably includes needing to have the Celtics part of the bidding and the Celtics cannot be part of the bidding until we get closer to July 1.”
The Celtics are not allowed to trade for Davis until July 1 due to the Rose Rule.
But Patrick asked Wojnarowski: “Could the Celtics make this trade in theory and then finalise it in July when they’re officially allowed to bring him in?”
Wojnarowski replied: “Yes.
"I don’t know that they’d agreed to a deal structure this far out, especially during the season.
“But once the season’s over, especially when there’s draft picks involved and Boston could have more than one pick in this coming draft.
“You see this a lot where teams are drafting for somebody else on draft night and then the deal and all the pieces and the trade are finalised on July 1.
“So even though they technically can’t do the deal until July 1, once Kyrie Irving is a free agent, they can have an agreement in place well before then.”