The Hypothetical Trade
Celtics Receive: Damian Lillard
Trail Blazers Receive: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Aaron Nesmith, 2022 First-Round Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick
Some Boston fans are not going to love this trade offer. Even though they would be getting one of the elite superstars in the game, they are giving up a ton of value.
Brown is an All-Star himself and Smart is an elite perimeter defender. Nesmith is a solid young talent who could become something special in the future. Adding in three first-round picks would make this insane value that the Trail Blazers would have to have interest in.
While some fans may not love it, the superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard could take the Celtics to the NBA Finals. Lillard is that big of an impact player. Boston should pull the trigger on this deal in an instant if the Trail Blazers agreed to it.
Let’s take a deeper look at this trade for the Celtics and why they should pursue it this offseason if Lillard asks for a trade from Portland.