Report: Celtics believe Davis could stay if they trade for him

The Boston Celtics think Anthony Davis wouldn't depart during free agency in 2020 if they acquire him in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

However, Davis is treating any other team he's traded to other than the Los Angeles Lakers as a temporary stop, according to the report.

Pelicans general manager Dell Demps isn't returning calls to the Lakers regarding Davis, sources told ESPN.

News of Davis' trade request broke on Monday, 10 days before the Feb. 7 NBA trade deadline. The superstar's agent, Rich Paul, is widely assumed to have planned the request at a time when the Lakers, and not the Celtics, can make an trade offer to the Pelicans. Boston is prohibited from acquiring Davis as long as he and Kyrie Irving are on the same "Rose Rule" contracts.

The earliest Irving can sign a new deal is July 1. While the point guard is on record saying he wants to remain with the Celtics, reports last week indicated there's renewed skepticism about his plans. Sources told ESPN that Davis and his camp no longer believe Irving is a sure bet to re-sign in Boston, and that's the primary reason they're sending a message to the Celtics that Davis would be a one-season rental player.

Boston and other suitors, though, remain curious about whether Davis' reported Lakers-or-bust stance will soften after the trade deadline.

From an asset standpoint, the Celtics can likely make the strongest trade offer. As a result, the Pelicans are expected to do their due diligence and hear Boston's proposal, even though, under the rules, they can't accept it until after this season.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Pelicans could consider sitting Davis for the rest of this season if he's not dealt by next Thursday's deadline.