In the wake of Damian Lillard requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, one NBA writer is proposing that the Boston Celtics acquire the seven-time All-Star.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following blockbuster trade between the Celtics and Blazers:
Boston Celtics Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Malcolm Brogdon, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard, Robert Williams III, Golden State’s 2024 first-round pick (top-four protection), 2025 first-round pick (unprotected), 2027 first-round pick (unprotected), 2029 first-round pick (top-five protection)
Lillard has told the Blazers that he wants to get traded to the Miami Heat. However, since the future Hall of Famer doesn’t possess a no-trade clause in his contract, the Blazers can trade Lillard anywhere they want to.
The 32-year-old Lillard averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists last season while shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line. He scored a whopping 71 points on February 26 versus the Houston Rockets.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics have already made two trades this summer, trading Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. Boston acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards, so the team’s new Big 3 is now Jayson Tatum, Porzingis and Jaylen Brown, who is expected to sign a supermax extension with the Celtics soon.
The Heat and Celtics have faced other in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals series. It would certainly be fun to watch Lillard, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo versus Tatum, Brown and Porzingis in a best-of-seven series next year.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Boston Celtics Updates
However, for that to happen, the Blazers would have to trade Lillard to the Heat and several reports have stated that Portland is not impressed with Miami’s offer for Lillard.
Multiple reports have stated that Lillard doesn’t want to get traded to the Celtics. The Weber State product is dead set on playing for the Heat. However, if Boston traded for Lillard, the guard would likely have to play in Boston to avoid fines since he’s under contract.
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