The Boston Celtics long envisioned a scenario in which their trade for Kyrie Irving in 2017 would eventually lead to a 2019 offseason in which he re-signs long-term and the team also trades for Anthony Davis.

Irving is now on the verge of leaving the Celtics in free agency while Davis has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I don't think they ever wanted him as their franchise player," said Zach Lowe on the Lowe Post podcast of Irving. "They wanted Anthony Davis as their franchise player."

"Right. And Irving was sort of bait," replied Kevin Arnovitz.