Celtics-Lakers Overreactions: Not trading for Anthony Davis was a blessing for C's

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-lakers-overreactions-not-trading-225538863.html



Celtics-Lakers Overreactions: Not trading for Anthony Davis was a blessing for C's



Justin Leger
NBC Sports Boston
February 23, 2020, 2:55 PM PST



The Boston Celtics fell to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in a thriller, 114-112.

Here are three instant overreactions to the C's loss, which brings them to 39-17 on the season.


1. Not trading for Anthony Davis last summer was a blessing for the Celtics.

Verdict: Not an overreaction

Anthony Davis-to-the-Celtics rumors dominated the headlines in Boston both during and after last year's disappointing Celtics season. It turns out that not pulling the trigger on a deal for the superstar big man was one of the best decisions Danny Ainge has made as C's general manager.

A trade for AD likely would have cost Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and/or Marcus Smart, and draft capital. We'll never know how a move for Davis would have impacted the C's, but we do know what Boston has going for it right now is pretty special.

Tatum has taken over the lead role, and his supporting cast of Brown, Hayward, Smart, Kemba Walker, and Daniel Theis have done a tremendous job around him. It's frightening to think about what the Celtics' core would look like right now had Ainge overreacted to the letdown 2018-19 campaign. Fortunately, C's fans don't have to live in that reality.

This isn't to take anything away from AD, who had 32 points and 13 rebounds plus a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to help L.A. earn the victory, it's simply a credit to what this year's Celtics group has been able to accomplish without him.


Celtics on NBC Sports Boston

@NBCSCeltics
Gordon feeds Marcus for two