The Boston Celtics are clearly high on Kyrie Irving's superstar potential. When they announced the trade the night it was completed, Danny Ainge lauded the (former?) Cleveland Cavaliers point guard, calling him "one of the best offensive players in the league."

But Irving's star potential isn't the only reason the Celtics are interested in him, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe. The Celtics also believe he could help them in their pursuit of other stars, including (yes, we are going to use this name because Lowe used it first) Anthony Davis, who the Celtics have their eyes on for obvious reasons.

From Lowe, who noted that the Celtics have a great package to offer for Davis: "Irving would be an indirect part of that package. The NBA's superstar class respects his ballsy showman's game. (Ainge has long liked Irving more than most of his peers for some of the same reasons, sources say.)"

The whole post is well worth your time.

This lines up in multiple ways. The Celtics always have an eye on both the present and the future. Irving fits Boston's timeline, but he also fits as a recruiting tool. Earlier this week, Kevin Durant told Bill Simmons he thinks Irving will "thrive" in Boston.

"It's a perfect system for him in Boston," Durant told Simmons. "It's a perfect fit. Because he's a 6-foot-3 Isaiah Thomas, basically, and Isaiah just thrived in that system, and then he got Gordon Hayward and Al Horford, who are gonna be able to make plays for him, too. It's gonna be pretty sweet. I think it was a great deal."

That kind of respect from one of the NBA's greatest players will go a long way. Irving will need to prove that he can be a real point guard in Boston, but if he can, the Celtics will have a very attractive situation for any superstar looking for a new home.

And yes, that includes Anthony Davis.