Per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnaroski, the New Orleans Pelicans are leaning towards waiting until the offseason to strike a potential trade deal centered around superstar center Anthony Davis with the Boston Celtics as their preferred trade partner. Wojnarowski’s report comes on the heels of Davis’ father sending a strongly-worded text to ESPN that made disparaging remarks about the Celtics organization and his own report that that Boston in undeterred by the elder Davis’ comments (per MassLive‘s Tom Westerholm).

New Orleans has been leaning toward waiting until the end of the season to negotiate with the Boston Celtics, who have a larger pool of draft and player assets.

It makes sense for the Pelicans to want to strike a deal with the Celtics considering their highly-touted collection of potential first-round draft picks and talented (as well as young) players.

There are some concerns, such as the projected value of those first-round picks dwindling in light of the success of the Sacramento Kings and the change of direction of the Memphis Grizzlies (whose pick is protected in the top-8 and want to trade two franchise cornerstones).

However, unless the Pelicans are “blown away” by an offer from another team, it seems as if their content to stand pat and watch how the season unfolds.

That’s where the situation becomes dicey, as a wait-and-see approach with this many variables could leave the Celtics empty-handed — having lost out on both Davis and possibly Kyrie Irving — or, worse, with chemistry issues because players spent the second half of the season feeling like the expendable pieces on a team.

Boston can consummate a deal for Davis in July, once Irving becomes a free agent. Boston has been encouraging New Orleans to bypass the deadline and wait until after the season to work with them on a deal for Davis, sources said. The Pelicans are privately insisting that they would need to be “blown away” to accept a trade in this short window before the trade deadline.

The Celtics no doubt want to trade for Davis, not just because he’s a transcendent talent but because they realize that acquiring Davis may be the key to keeping Irving in Boston. However, teams Los Angeles Lakers will try their darndest — and they already are — to assemble a trade package that will please the Pelicans.

Los Angeles has already offered a trade package centered around Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and a first-round pick, putting their trade package somewhat on par with what the Celtics are likely to offer (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and multiple first-round picks). Surrendering more future draft assets or trying to work a third team into the trade in order to re-route another first-round pick for Davis’ services could be on the table for the Lakers too.

Buckle up, because it’s going to be a wild ride to the trade deadline and maybe an even wilder ride to the NBA offseason. This has been the most memorable sequence of events for the Celtics in nearly a decade.