Worst Trade Destination No. 1: Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics played the waiting game when it came to the point guard position this offseason. They lucked out, signing Dennis Schroder to a one-year deal after he grossly misjudged his market and had to settle for a mid-level exception after turning down an extension worth more than $80 million from the Los Angeles Lakers during the season.
Marcus Smart recently signed an extension with the Celtics and there are reports that he will be taking over point guard duties. But, that should not deter the franchise from looking into a player of Damian Lillard’s caliber.
Lillard would be a game-changer for the Celtics, who came up woefully short of expectations last season. However, the Celtics would be a bad destination for him because of what it would cost to get him.
The Trail Blazers would assuredly ask for Jaylen Brown in a return package from the Celtics for Lillard. If they surrender Brown it is hard to imagine a route where Boston can elevate the rest of the roster to reach the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.
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Lillard and Jayson Tatum would be as good of a one-two punch as there is in the NBA, but the Celtics would fall short of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
