As we approach the February 7 NBA trade deadline, Anthony Davis is the headliner that everyone is interested in. He has publicly stated that he will not be signing a contract extension with New Orleans, and has also made it clear that he will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers when his contract expires in the 2020 off-season. So if all that holds true, any team that trades for Davis with the exception of the Lakers, would essentially be renting him for a year and a half. In the case of the Celtics, it would only be for a single season. The question is: is Anthony Davis worth it?
The answer is very simply an emphatic yes. Davis is a legitimate super star, and is just now entering the prime of his career. If paired with another star or two, it would create a force to be reckoned with. The Celtics and Davis have been linked together for the better half of his career, and it is evident that Danny Ainge has been intrigued by the idea of bringing the big man to Boston for years. The biggest issue at this point in time is former Celtic foe, Magic Johnson. Johnson is the current President of Basketball Operations in LA, and he is eager to pair Davis with LeBron James.
If it was as basic as sending his best assets to New Orleans to complete the trade, I think Ainge would do it in the blink of an eye. The issue is that, due to a trade/contract restriction, the Celtics are unable to trade for Davis until the off-season, unless Kyrie Irving is part of the deal. The whole point of acquiring Davis would be to team him up with Irving, so the off-season is really the only option. Another problem Ainge has to consider is the rumors of Irving leaving Boston at the end of the season, which would really throw a curveball into the whole situation. 
The Lakers are in the driver’s seat because they can offer Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and first round picks at this very moment. That is a very attractive package, in which the Celtics cannot match until the 2019 season comes to a close. With that said, Ainge is definitely on the phone constantly with New Orleans letting them know that if they can just wait it out for these last 30 or so games, they will receive a great offer from Boston.
Perhaps the deal breaker, one way or another, is Jayson Tatum. If he is in the deal, the Pelicans surely will wait until the summer and pull the trigger. If he is not available, it is safe to say the Celtics probably will never see Anthony Davis in green. Should Danny Ainge consider giving up Tatum for Davis? At this time last year, or even in the beginning of this year, I would have said absolutely not. However, a lot of things have changed. Gordon Hayward looks like he may never be the same, while Kyrie Irving is rumored to be having second thoughts about his future here in Boston. There is no doubt in my mind that Tatum will be a star and have a great career, but bringing in proven talent and a guy who is in his prime is what it is all about in the NBA. It also would help retain Kyrie, which is key for the franchise. The Celtics gambled on Kevin Garnett, and it could not have worked out any better. Davis says he wants to be in LA, but I would not rule out the chance that Danny Ainge attempts to convince him otherwise.