When Thursday started, ESPN reported the Celtics were worried the Knicks could swoop in on the Anthony Davis talks and, if successful, use the star big man to lure Kyrie Irving out of Boston.

Things have changed a lot since then.



The Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr., a first-round pick and the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews.

So Irving still remains in their sights in free agency, but it comes with the hope of also adding Kevin Durant now that they have enough cap space to lure two max free agents. They also will have a prime spot in the lottery with hopes they land the No. 1 pick and Zion Williamson.

The Celtics now have to hope that the Pelicans pass on the Lakers’ offer before the Feb. 7 trade deadline and give them a chance to trade for Davis this offseason. That took a hit on Thursday, though, when Pelicans general manager Dell Demps finally returned Lakers phone calls, ESPN reported.

If Los Angeles and New Orleans cannot strike a deal by the deadline, the Celtics have long been viewed as the summertime favorites to land the stud center.

As it stands, the Celtics may have the most attractive assets to send to New Orleans for Davis — including Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, multiple first-round picks and even Jayson Tatum, if need be — though they can’t make that deal until the summer because of cap rules. Boston believes that acquiring Davis and convincing him to stay long-term could secure Irving’s future in green and white, the report said. Irving, who has an opt-out on July 1, said before the season he wants to stay with the Celtics, but that decision is still up in the air.

“I talk to Kyrie all the time. My feelings have not changed. I feel like Kyrie likes it in Boston,” Ainge told “Toucher and Rich” on Thursday on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. “But we won’t know anything until July.”

The Knicks’ scenario is their best case. The worst case is that they traded away for Porzingis and will end up paying top money for second-tier stars if they strike out on Porzingis and Irving.

The Davis drama hangs above all of this, and the Lakers hang above the Davis drama. The Pelicans reportedly have no desire to send Davis to Los Angeles with a year-plus left on his contract. And if they trade him elsewhere, ESPN is reporting that Davis plans to still be Lakers-bound when he becomes a free agent in 2020.

This story was updated after the Knicks’ trade of Porzingis.