Absent from the new list are the
Boston Celtics, league sources said. The Celtics are unable to trade for Davis until July 1 as long as
Kyrie Irving is on the team's roster based on the fact that they both are under the provision of the Designated Rookie Extension.
Nevertheless, the Celtics remain determined to acquire Davis after the season and Celtics GM Danny Ainge has directly urged Demps to wait until the offseason when the Celtics have promised to be aggressive with their wealth of draft and player assets to try and acquire Davis, league sources said. Ainge is anxious to trade for Davis and pair him with Irving, sources said.
Boston's plan to pursue Davis remains unaffected by whatever decision Irving might make in summer free agency, league sources said. Irving, 26, had previously said he planned to re-sign with the Celtics in the summer but has recently wavered in public on that promise. While the Celtics can't be positive on Irving's forthcoming decision in July, they do remain confident that he'll choose to stay in Boston, sources said. The Celtics also believe that a deal for Davis would help solidify his confidence in re-signing with the organization, sources said.
Still, Davis' camp has been engaged in an aggressive campaign to push back on the possibility of the All-Star center's future in Boston, encouraging the Pelicans to do a deal with the Lakers or another preferred team prior to Boston getting the chance to become active in deal talks in the offseason. The best chance that Davis has to force his way to the Lakers is creating a level of chaos and uncertainty in the marketplace over Davis' privately stated wishes. The league's landscape is certainly feeling the tremors of Paul's and Davis' campaign.
For now, anyway, the Lakers pursuit has several factors working against it. As the Lakers elevate their offer, including more top young players and even more draft picks into the offer, they'll keep closing the gap. Until then, New Orleans is curious about whether the Celtics might include young star
Jayson Tatum into an offseason trade along with a package of first-round picks, sources said.