Where the Raptors stand in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes Toronto is one of many teams that will be interested in the New Orleans Pelicans forward, but the price will be steep and the Boston Celtics are the clear favourites, Josh Lewenberg writes.

Josh Lewenberg TSN Raptors Reporter Follow|Archive

TORONTO – There’s never a dull moment in the NBA, as we were reminded again on Monday morning when, after months of speculation, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis publically asked for a trade.

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported, agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports informed the Pelicans that Davis won’t be signing a contract extension with the team and has requested to be moved.

“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that’s the reason for informing them of this decision now. That’s in the best interests of both Anthony’s and the organization’s future.”

Davis is under contract though next season and while he’s eligible to sign a five-year, $240 million supermax extension with New Orleans this summer, he can’t become a free agent until the summer of 2020. In other words, time is on the Pelicans’ side, even if Davis’ trade demand has started the clock. He’ll almost certainly be moved. The question is: when and to whom?

The Toronto Raptors are one of many teams that figure to be interested. Why wouldn’t they be? Davis is an all-world talent. At worst, he’s a top-7 or top-8 NBA player, a transcendent star that, at 25 years of age, hasn’t even hit his prime.

As for the Raptors, it’s no secret; they’re all-in this season. After their off-season trade for Kawhi Leonard, who can become a free agent this summer, they have given themselves a one-year window to compete for a championship, while also trying to extend that window by selling Leonard on a future in Toronto. Theoretically, Davis could help them accomplish both of those objectives. But how realistic is it?

The market for Davis will be crowded and competitive. At the centre of it all sits the Boston Celtics, a team that has been collecting assets, and hanging onto them, for years in the hopes of making a run at this very player. With their treasure trove of established veterans, intriguing young stars and quality draft picks, they’ve got the pieces to outbid any other team for Davis.

So, why isn’t Davis already a Celtic?

It’s complicated. Boston’s hands are tied by what’s known as the “Rose Rule”, a provision in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement named after point guard Derrick Rose. The Rose Rule allows eligible players coming off their rookie contracts to sign a max extension for 30 per cent of the salary cap, instead of the standard 25 per cent. It also prohibits teams from rostering more than one player under that contract structure at any given time.

The current deals of Davis and Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving apply. That is to say that Boston cannot trade for Davis as long as Irving is on the roster or until Irving’s contract expires on July 1.

If nothing else, Davis’ oddly timed trade request gives other teams a chance to submit their offers, make their case, and hope that New Orleans is compelled to move their disgruntled star before Boston can really get in the mix.

That’s the Raptors only real shot at Davis. If, for whatever reason, the Pelicans decide to deal him ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline – perhaps they’re concerned about the distraction having him around the team for the next few months may cause – Toronto is among the teams that could conceivably put together a competitive offer.

Leonard signed a standard extension with San Antonio back in 2015 and the Raptors don't have a player bound by the restrictions of the Rose Rule. So, at least technically, they are free to trade for Davis.

Any reasonable offer would have to start with Raptors’ budding star Pascal Siakam, and possibly also include sophomore forward OG Anunoby, in addition to either Jonas Valanciunas or Serge Ibaka to match salary, as well as future first-round draft picks. Yes, the price will be steep.

The Raptors are limited in terms of the picks they can offer. They’ve already traded away their 2019 first-rounder, shipped to San Antonio in the deal that landed them Leonard. While they still own their 2020 pick, the NBA prohibits teams from trading future firsts in consecutive years. Meaning, the earliest first-round pick they can offer is their 2021 selection. Giving up a pick that far into the future would be a massive risk, unless it’s heavily protected. Even if they used it to acquire Davis, hypothetically, both he and Leonard could leave in free agency before the summer of 2021, making that pick extremely valuable.

Even if they decide to go ‘all-in’, there will surely be other teams willing to do the same. LeBron James made waves when he expressed interest in teaming up with Davis last month. Like the Raptors, the Lakers could put together a compelling offer including Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. Are the Celtics willing to put Irving on the block – including him in a deal for Davis or making a separate deal – if it means landing the big fish they’ve spent years chasing?

All of this could, and should, be moot, however. The Pelicans have little incentive to rush this process. The next few months will be awkward in New Orleans, to be sure. Davis is sidelined with a finger injury and the team is quickly falling out of a very tight playoff race in the Western Conference, now six games back with four teams to leapfrog. So be it.

Assuming the Pelicans’ goal is to maximize their potential return for Davis, it would seem to be in their best interest to wait this out until the summer and allow Boston to enter the bidding war. You can expect Celtics general manager Danny Ainge to be whispering that into Pelicans GM Dell Demps’ ear over the coming weeks. They’re even free to discuss the potential framework of a deal that could be completed as early as July 1, one that might include blue-chip prospects like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as premium picks.

The Raptors – like the Lakers and several other teams – could, and probably should swing for the fences. However, despite the restrictions that may prevent them from getting a deal done in the near future, the Celtics should still be considered the favourites to land Davis.