The Boston Celtics have told the New Orleans Pelicans to hold off on trading Anthony Davis before the trade deadline as they believe they have the best trade package to offer. 

The Celtics want to keep Jayson Tatum in any potential deal for Davis, but could offer Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart, and a bevy of first-round picks at their disposal, including a future Memphis first-round pick that becomes unprotected in 2021.

Davis did not have the Celtics on his initial list of desired destinations because his camp do not believe that them re-signing Kyrie Irving is a lock.

Davis' position is that he will sign with the Lakers in 2020 and a trade to any other team will be a 1-year rental.

The Celtics believe that Irving would re-sign if they traded for Davis, and that Davis would not walk out on a core of him, Irving, and Tatum when he becomes a free agent in 2020.