1. Boston Celtics

It took some time, but the Boston Celtics were finding their stride ahead of the All-Star break. Head coach Ime Udoka has transformed the team, moving away from the isolation-heavy offense and getting the team to buy in defensively.

They are in a good spot, but the ceiling of this team still isn’t very high. Boston’s front office will do what they can to upgrade the roster around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but there are people within the league who think that pairing will eventually have to be broken up for the team to realize its potential.

If they come to that decision earlier than anticipated, such as this offseason, they are an ideal landing spot for Damian Lillard. The Boston Celtics would have a strong offer right off the bat with Brown as the centerpiece, as no one else is likely offering a player of that caliber.

For Boston, Lillard is exactly what they are looking for. The team needs to balance out the roster and acquiring a star point guard would help them do that. They have the pieces in place to overcome his defensive shortcomings as well, as Marcus Smart can move over to the shooting guard spot, with Tatum remaining at small forward.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest News Surrounding Stars In NBA Rumors; LeBron, Mitchell, Zion

Moving Brown isn’t something the Boston Celtics are considering right now, but down the road, a swap of Brown for Lillard is something that could ultimately benefit both teams.