Tanguay: C's blockbuster may have centered around Davis

by **112288** Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:33 pm

CSN REPORT

Ainge: Mystery trade partner ‘never reported’

Danny Ainge says the blockbuster the C's nearly pulled off would have surprised fans because it was 'never reported' as a rumored deal.

Danny Ainge told Adam Kaufman of WBZ Radio that the Celtics would have pulled off a blockbuster deal if the other team hadn't backed out.

A mystery team, eh, Danny? A blockbuster you say, Danny?

Hmmm, I say as I rub my chin at my desk in the CSN newsroom.

But wait. Brad Stevens said the potential deal involved a good solid NBA player. So which is it, guys? A blockbuster doesn't jive with the words good or solid.

If you go by Brad’s terminology, I have to believe they were talking about Al Horford. He's a good, solid NBA player who I love, and I think he'd be a great fit here. However, a Brooklyn pick for him is crazy. Plus, Danny said the mystery team was not mentioned in any of the rumors. So Atlanta's out, along with the Clippers, Cavs and Houston.

Danny’s message is much more fun. A mystery team and a blockbuster! Now, those are words that can get you trending, as opposed to good and solid.

So maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

There were also reports that this trade could be re-visited in the summer. This rules out Kevin Durant, as he will be a free agent and would have to agree to the trade and commit to signing with Boston. Also, I can't see Stevens referring to Durant as a "good, solid" player.

The Spurs aren't dumping anyone. I can’t see Minnesota getting rid of Andrew Wiggins or Karl-Anthony Town. LeBron? Of course not. Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas and Dwyane Wade in Miami are too old. Paul George in Indiana? That wouldn't a blockbuster in my opinion, but he could also fall under the label of "good, solid" player.

So by the process of elimination, I've come up with . . .

Anthony Davis. New Orleans Pelicans.

Certainly, a blockbuster. I don't know how a coach could call him a "good, solid" player, but the reality is his 23.4 points, 9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game have not been good enough to lift his team to a contending level. Why would the Pelicans deal him? Well, Davis may have great numbers but the team stinks (20-33 this year) and he just signed a five-year, $145 million deal. If you pay a player that kind of money, your team should be better than 13 games under .500. Plus, if New Orleans acquires the Nets' No. 1 pick in a trade for Davis, and it winds up being the top overall choice in the draft, the Pelicans can select Ben Simmons from nearby LSU and begin a full-blown rebuild with a local player. (That could be one of the reasons Ainge hinted the deal could be revisited in the offseason; if the Celts wind up with the No. 1 overall pick, a Davis trade would make a lot of sense.)

Would I trade this year’s Brooklyn pick for Davis? You bet. Heck, I would trade them all for The Brow because I believe Danny could build a great roster around him. And the Celtics have the best coach in the league.

So how's that for a mystery team? You got any ideas?

112288