That’s the suggestion from Get More Sports’ Chris Sheridan, who claims Boston may not feel confident that Davis would stay with them.
Davis faces an uncertain future with the New Orleans Pelicans, despite the possibility of being offered a supermax extension worth $240million this summer.
It is widely expected he will reject the offer, putting the likes of the Celtics and the Lakers on red alert.
Boston can’t trade for Davis this season with Kyrie Irving on his current contract, meaning the Lakers have a window of opportunity before the February 7 deadline to strike a deal.
However, the Pelicans had made it abundantly clear that they will not entertain the prospect of losing Davis halfway through the campaign.
That means a trade is unlikely to happen until the summer when Boston can come in to play.
But Sheridan suggests Davis’ 2020 free agency will play a huge part in any package Boston or the Lakers put together.
And he believes it will put LeBron James and Co. in pole position to get a deal over the line.
“If #Celtics get him, they will need a reassurance that he will not opt out,” Sheridan tweeted.
“If they can’t get that reassurance, #Lakers become a more viable option.”
The Pelicans face an uphill battle to convince New Orleans is the best place for him to be to challenge for a championship.
And 2016 NBA champion Dahntay Jones believes they have left it too late to make a move worthy enough of changing Davis’ mind.
“That franchise is going to have to take some steps to accommodate a star of his calibre,” Jones said.
“He’s talking about a legacy, he’s talking about championships and they\re just not ready for that right now.
“To be able to get somebody to play next to him or two or three players to play next to him, they can’t get that type of player right now.
“The only way to get it is the model Golden State used is to draft wisely and to be able to be attractive with winning.
“You can’t solve that answer this fast for a guy who’s coming up in a year in free agency that wants to win championships.”