Anthony Davis: Lakers receive major trade boost, Celtics dealt huge blow

That’s because of ‘The Rose Rule’, which essentially allows players finishing their rookie contracts to sign for a higher percentage of the team’s total salary cap than normal if they achieve one of winning MVP, two-time All-NBA Team selection or voted-on All-Star starter.

Davis will be eligible to sign for such a deal in the near future having been named to three All-NBA first teams.

But how does this affect the Celtics and in contrast benefit the Lakers?

NBA teams can’t have two players on their roster signed using the ‘Rose Rule’ and Boston already traded for Kyrie Irving using the rule.

And that will be good news to the Lakers as it was reported yesterday by Get More Sports’ Chris Sheridan that the Lakers, Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks are the four teams in which Davis would want to be traded to.

The report adds the 25-year-old could look at trying to force through a move as early as this season’s trade deadline.

It would supposedly depend on whether he feels the New Orleans Pelicans are able to challenge in the Western Conference this season or not.

If Davis doesn’t think the Pelicans, who have struggled in the playoffs of late, can mount a challenge then he will look to force a move before the trade deadline.

The only way the Celtics could make a trade this season would be if they include Irving in any deal.

But the 26-year-old has already admitted he wants to re-sign with Boston in the summer when he becomes a free agent and Brad Stevens will likely want to pair Irving with Davis.

If Davis is still available by next summer then Boston will be able to try and trade for the five-time All-Star as Irving’s new contract will allow them to make a deal.

Boston can of course also trade for Davis next summer if Irving goes against his word and leaves the franchise.

It means the Lakers have a window of opportunity to beat the Celtics to the signing of Davis.

The Lakers have plenty of assets available to them to put together a trade package good enough to tempt the Pelicans into trading.

But New Orleans will likely be hoping to prove to Davis they can compete now and have him sign a supermax extension in 2019.