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Glen Davis Likely to Test Free Agency This Summer, ‘to Let Glen Davis Be Glen Davis’

Glen Davis sounds as though he's got one foot out the door after four years as a Boston Celtic. Maybe a foot and a half, even.

He also sounds perfectly OK with that.

Speaking with reporters at a charity event this week in Medford, Mass., the C's youngster known as "Big Baby" had a few interesting words to say about his upcoming free agency.

"I can be Glen Davis wherever," he said when asked about being himself in Boston. "It depends on the system, the people around the system, who is going to let Glen Davis be Glen Davis, not let Glen Davis be something they think he should be."

It's not just Davis' 295-pound body that's grown a lot over these last few years. Clearly it's his ego, too.

Davis is just a bench guy. In 277 career games, he's started 31 of them, only sneaking into the Celtics' first unit when Kevin Garnett has been injured. But he's become one of the league's very best bench guys, finishing fourth last season in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year.

He wants more respect for that. And whenever the NBA resumes play next year, he wants to be in a situation where his talents are respected.

Will that be with the Celtics? It seems unlikely. Davis doesn't seem to be focused too keenly on the offseason plans of Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge.

"I don't try to pay attention," he said. "I know Doc talks a lot. I don’t pay attention to that. That's what he does. That's Doc, he loves to talk. Danny, he's doing what he's doing, concentrating on the draft. He doesn't need to concentrate on me right now. I don't really stay in touch with those guys."

That sounds like a guy who's outta here.

You can understand why. When Davis has complained over the last year or two about being uncomfortable with his role, he's talking about both the basketball side of things and the psychological element. On the floor, he's never clear on whether he's supposed to be a true big man or more of a floor-spreading, versatile-defending forward; but off it, he's got it even worse.

Davis has become Rivers' whipping boy. When things go wrong, the coach has an easy target he can take jabs at in the media. Davis has been called out for his immaturity, his spotty basketball IQ and his diva attitude. He's the Big Baby around these parts, after all, and he's treated like a child. He's a 25-year-old man. He's got a child of his own.

A man can only be a Baby for so long. Glen Davis needs to be a man somewhere else.

The Celtics will survive. They've got a new sixth man in town, anyway — Jeff Green is here and ready to fill that role (or if Green starts, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen could come off the bench and be a dynamite sixth star). The C's also can spin Davis somewhere else and get a solid piece via sign-and-trade. Their bench will be just fine, Baby or no Baby.

It sounds as though a change is coming. And it also sounds like both sides will ultimately be better for it.

Should Glen Davis stay or should he go? Share your thoughts below.