For years, the idea of Anthony Davis joining the Boston Celtics felt like ancient history. When the Celtics showed serious interest years ago, Davis and his camp made it clear he had no desire to play in Boston. He was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers instead, where he won a championship and cemented his place among the league’s elite big men. For most Boston fans, the ship had sailed.
A lot has changed since then.
Now 33 and with his body showing the wear of a long, physical career, Davis finds himself in Washington, D.C., trying to salvage the final chapters of his NBA journey. After being traded twice in recent years, his value has diminished significantly. Durability issues have limited his availability, and he has reportedly shown little enthusiasm for the prospect of playing alongside Trae Young in the nation’s capital.
That dynamic shifted dramatically on lottery night.
The Washington Wizards won the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, positioning them to select a potential franchise cornerstone – widely projected to be either AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. With a promising young core already featuring Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley, Tre Johnson, and others, the franchise now has a clear path forward. Landing a blue-chip talent makes the veterans on the roster far more expendable.
Davis has already voiced doubts about his future with the Wizards. For Washington, this presents a golden opportunity to flip the former All-NBA standout for additional assets and fully commit to a youth-driven rebuild.
The Celtics, fresh off another postseason that ended in disappointment, have a clear need to upgrade their frontcourt. While a blockbuster pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the dream scenario for many, the possibility of acquiring Davis at a potentially discounted rate has quietly re-entered the conversation in Boston.
But should it? Let’s break down the obstacles, the options, and why Brad Stevens should probably stay far away.
The Davis Reality: 33, Injury-Prone, and Expensive
Let’s start with the cold, hard facts.
Anthony Davis is 33 years old. He has played in just 71 games over the last two seasons combined. His body has broken down repeatedly. He is no longer the two-way force who dominated the 2020 NBA Finals.
He is still talented. When healthy, he can still protect the rim, rebound, and score in the post. But “when healthy” is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Davis is owed 58.5millionnextseason,witha58.5millionnextseason,witha62.8 million player option for 2027-28. That’s over $120 million guaranteed for a player who cannot stay on the court.
For most teams, that contract carries negative value. The Wizards would have to attach assets to move him – not the other way around.
The Wizards’ Situation: A Youth Movement in Washington
Let’s talk about Washington.
The Wizards won the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They are widely expected to select either AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson – a potential franchise cornerstone.
Washington already has a promising young core: Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley, Tre Johnson. Adding a top pick to that group accelerates their rebuild.
Veterans like Davis are now expendable. He has already voiced doubts about his future with the Wizards. He reportedly has little enthusiasm for playing alongside Trae Young.
For Washington, trading Davis makes perfect sense. They can flip him for assets – young players, draft picks, expiring contracts – and fully commit to their youth movement.
But finding a taker for that contract? That’s the challenge.
The Celtics’ Need: Frontcourt Help Is Real
Let’s not pretend the Celtics don’t have a need.
Boston’s frontcourt was exposed in the playoffs. Neemias Queta is a nice backup, but he’s not a starter. Luka Garza has a role, but he’s not a difference-maker. Kristaps Porzingis is a free agent, and his future is uncertain.
The Celtics need size. They need rim protection. They need a veteran presence who can help them compete for a championship.
Anthony Davis, in theory, addresses those needs. In theory.
But the cost – both in terms of assets and salary – is enormous.
The Jaylen Brown Scenario: A Non-Starter
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
To acquire Davis without gutting the roster, the Celtics would likely need to trade Jaylen Brown. Brown makes 53.1millionnextseason–closeenoughtoDavis′s53.1millionnextseason–closeenoughtoDavis′s58.5 million to make the money work.
Trading Brown for Davis would be a disaster.
Brown is 29 years old. He’s durable. He’s a two-way star who just averaged 28.7 points per game. He’s entering his prime.
Davis is 33. He’s injury-prone. He’s declining. He’s owed more money.
There is no scenario where trading Brown for Davis makes the Celtics better. Not now. Not in the future. Not ever.
The Depth-Robbing Scenario: White, Hauser, and Pritchard
What about a package centered on Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard?
Those three players combine to make roughly 45millionnextseason.It′sclosetoDavis′s45millionnextseason.It′sclosetoDavis′s58.5 million. Add a smaller contract or two, and the money works.
But that package would strip Boston of its backcourt depth. White is an All-Defense caliber guard. Hauser is a elite three-point shooter. Pritchard is a reliable backup point guard.
Losing all three for one player – a 33-year-old who can’t stay healthy – would leave the Celtics dangerously thin.
And they would still need to add salary to make the deal work. That might mean including a young player like Baylor Scheierman or a draft pick.
The cost is too high. The risk is too great.
The Creative Cap Path: The Traded Player Exception
There is a third option.
The Celtics have traded player exceptions (TPEs) from previous deals. They could use those TPEs to absorb expiring salary from another team, then flip that salary to Washington in a multi-team trade.
It would require creativity. It would require cooperation from the Wizards and a third team. It would require Washington to be willing to take back less-than-premium assets.
Could it work? Possibly. But it’s a long shot.
And even if it works, the Celtics would still be acquiring a 33-year-old injury-prone center on a massive contract.
Is that worth the effort?
The Injury History: A Growing Concern
Let’s look at the numbers.
Davis has played in:
2023-24: 56 games
2024-25: 15 games (before being traded)
2025-26: 71 games combined across two teams
That’s not a player you can count on. That’s a player who misses significant time every single season.
The Celtics already have injury concerns with Kristaps Porzingis (if he returns) and Al Horford (age). Adding Davis to that mix would be a recipe for disaster.
The Giannis Comparison: Why Davis Is a Distant Second
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Celtics have been linked to Giannis in trade rumors. He’s younger (31). He’s healthier. He’s a two-time MVP and a Finals MVP. He’s a top-3 player in the world.
Davis is none of those things.
If the Celtics are going to swing for the fences, they should swing for Giannis. Not Davis.
Trading for Davis would be a consolation prize – and a poor one at that.
The Brad Stevens Philosophy: Patience Over Panic
Let’s talk about the man making the decisions.
Brad Stevens has built a reputation for shrewd, patient decision-making. He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t make moves out of desperation.
The Celtics just had a disappointing playoff exit. The natural reaction is to want to shake things up. But Stevens has earned the right to be measured.
Pursuing Anthony Davis would represent a departure from that approach – an aggressive swing born from playoff frustration rather than long-term conviction.
Unless the Celtics can structure a deal that minimizes the outflow of young talent and future assets while mitigating the financial risk, this is a situation Boston would be wise to monitor from a distance.
Anthony Davis to the Celtics is a compelling storyline. The idea of Davis in green, patrolling the paint, is fun to imagine.
But the obstacles are daunting.
Davis is 33. He’s injury-prone. He’s owed $120 million over the next two seasons. The Celtics would have to gut their roster to acquire him – either by trading Jaylen Brown (a non-starter) or by trading their entire backcourt depth.
The Wizards have a clear path forward with their young core and the No. 1 pick. They should trade Davis. But finding a taker for his contract will not be easy.
The Celtics should be that taker. They should stay away.
Brad Stevens has built a contender through patience and smart decision-making. Trading for Anthony Davis would be an emotional reaction to a disappointing season.
The Davis-to-Boston rumors may be alive again. But the obstacles remain as daunting as ever.
For now, the ball is in Washington’s court. But Boston should not be waiting to catch it.