After taking a 1-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round last season, Boston imploded and lost four straight games. By the end of the campaign, the Celtics were at a crossroads. Kyrie Irving had begun to distance himself from the franchise, but Anthony Davis remained in the periphery as someone whom the Celtics would pursue in an attempt to form a superstar duo with Irving. Around Davis, however, the belief was that Irving never intended to stay in Boston. In their conversations with the New Orleans Pelicans last June, Boston never did offer Tatum or Jaylen Brown, sources say.