Anthony Davis lands on Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown in L.A. in N.A.N mock

Sometimes NBA trade circles zag when everyone else is zigging. NBA Analysis Network’s wild swap sending Anthony Davis and filler to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and two future first-round draft picks did just that.

Of course, rumors surrounding an imminent Cs swap are all over the place with a 6-9 December so far and a current #10 standing in the Eastern Conference postseason picture. HH indulged in a mock deal involving Los Angeles’ other team, the Clippers ourselves.

But this N.A.N proposed deal is one that would simply never happen considering the pull of Davis’ good friend LeBron James in the Lakers hierarchy and the unlikelihood GM Rob Pelinka would part with a 1A superstar that is not even two years removed from helping lead the team to an NBA Championship.

This was the arrangement:

And this is why neither side would pull the trigger on this deal…

Why the Boston Celtics can’t do it

Obviously, Anthony Davis is one of the few options that the team would have to consider trading Jaylen Brown for. Davis has made eight straight All-Star game appearances and has four All-NBA First Team appearances and two All-NBA Defensive First Teams.

According to Chris Mannix, Brown is far from off the table in talks. It just has to be the right kind of talking:

"The idea that they’re gonna move Jaylen Brown, I think it would take something huge. Like Damian Lillard level huge."

Davis is Damian Lillard level huge, but bigger.

What undoes this for the Cs is their inability to offer their 2022 pick after trading away their 2021 pick. Otherwise, this might be worth considering because of just how good Davis has proven to be when healthy. Good luck scoring on a Davis-Robert Williams frontcourt.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers can’t do it

In the middle of a tumultuous season, the Lakers cannot possibly think that trading away their second best player–one that would be all but about 24 other teams’ clear #1 option–is the best solution.

It’d most likely ruffle the “king’s” feathers, and Jaylen Brown wouldn’t be the smoothest fit next to isolation-heavy offensive players like LeBron and Russell Westbrook.

This would be the opposite of a win-now move for the Lakers, who just won a title less than 15 months ago.