For the New Orleans Pelicans, landing Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics is a pipe dream that will never come to fruition
The New Orleans Pelicans would likely be wise in waiting until the off-season to trade Anthony Davis, if that’s in fact what happens over the next few days. After all, no matte what the Los Angeles Lakers might offer, it’s still going to be there in the summer.
Plus, the Boston Celtics can’t formally make an offer until July 1. If the team wants to make the best deal for the franchise, it’s probably best for them to wait until the summer – even if it doesn’t make for an exciting next couple of days.
At the same time, if the Pelicans are hoping that one day in the next few months that Danny Ainge is going to offer Jayson Tatum, they need to think again. That’s a pipe dream that is never going to happen.
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And it’s not something that’s been hidden by the Celtics either.
"[via SI]The Celtics have refused to directly dangle Jayson Tatum, two sources familiar with the situation told SI.com, but the Pelicans have been left with the impression that if Davis remains on the roster past Thursday, nothing is off the table."
Perhaps that’s OK with the Pelicans, especially if they’re in the business for a package surrounding by an outrageous number of picks – which the team is apparently hoping to receive from the Lakers in the next few days, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
But there’s no guarantee.
Pels are waiting on Lakers to overwhelm them w/ an historic haul of picks. To Nola, that means Lakers offering 4 first-round and second-round picks as part of a Davis package. Pels want to be compensated - perhaps even overcompensated - to even consider a deal with LA now. https://t.co/Ft8rfe9EBZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019
Interestingly, that’s probably something the Celtics would be more willing to offer during the summer, they certainly have more assets in that department from the Lakers. But, make no mistake, Ainge will, under no circumstance, dangle Tatum in any possible Anthony Davis deal.
The goal has to be to create a big three of AD, Kyrie Irving (hoping that he re-signs with the team, after they land Davis) and Tatum.
Without Tatum in any deal, a Celtics offer centered around just their players is pretty underwhelming. They could offer Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Gordon Hayward. Terry Rozier wouldn’t be available for them to offer since he’s a free agent after the season, and I’m not sure how interested the team would be in a soon-to-be free agent Hayward.
If this is strictly about their myriad of draft picks, then sure the Pelicans are making the right decision in hoping the Celtics come in with a grand offer in the off-season, but they shouldn’t be betting on landing Jayson Tatum. That deal is never happening.