Damian Lillard is the first superstar in the current era to go against joining forces with another elite talent to win multiple NBA titles. The former Weber State star name has been brought up consistently as a player that could team up with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or even Zion Williamson. But every time a rumor comes up, Lillard quickly shoots them down. Without question, his loyalty is with the Portland Trail-Blazers. He has been a part of the organization since joining the league in 2012. The Trail-Blazers selected him sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.
During his time in Portland, he has become one of the league’s most exciting players. However, his resume as a participant in the NBA Finals is not there. Lillard has only led Portland to one appearance in Western Conference Finals. Other than that, the farthest the Trail-Blazers have gotten in the postseason is the conference semi-final round. And recently, the team has been far from playoff or championship-contending level.
With the playoffs out of reach, the team has decided to shut Lillard down for the remainder of the season. Lately, the rumors of Lillard being traded in the offseason have come up once again. In a recent post by NBA Analysis writer James Piercey, he proposed that the six-time All-Star get traded to the Boston Celtics.
“The Celtics have two major incentives to do this deal.
We’ve already gotten into the first one. Brown seems likely to eventually leave. The Celtics might as well move him before he does. That much is obvious. Here’s another relatively obvious fact: Damian Lillard is currently a more impactful player than Brown. This is also an all-in push toward the NBA championship for the Celtics.
Lillard isn’t simply the better player, either. He’s also a better fit for Boston. This team could use an elite ball-handler in half-court sets. Lillard fits the bill. He and Jayson Tatum ought to make up the backbone of a serious title contender.”
Brown is an essential member of the Celtics and what they can do as a team. But replacing him with Lillard would put them on an entirely different level. We may not have seen them on a level since Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce joined forces in Boston. Brown has one year remaining on a four-year $115 million extension signed in 2019. Boston may have the assets to give Portland in return for the services of Lillard, but he will be the final decision maker on if the trade can occur.
The only way a blockbuster move for Lillard can be made is for the Trail Blazers ownership to come out and tell him that they are moving on and are ready to endure a full-blown rebuild. As for the Celtics, they are on the verge of compositing for a world title once again. They currently sit in second place behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference current playoff picture.
