Celtics Insider Urges Team to Target 9-Time All-Star

After a considerable talent drain to begin the summer, the Boston Celtics appear to be a franchise in flux. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet have all left the 2024 champions. Al Horford‘s future remains a question in need of answering.

In a recent edition of NBC Sports Boston’s “Early Edition,” Celtics insider Gary Washburn urged the team to target Damian Lillard. The All-Star guard was recently waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks.

“It’s cheap,” Washburn said. “$5.6 million mid-level, two years, because he’s already getting paid by the Bucks. So money is not an issue. You sit him for this year…You have two All-NBA players coming back along with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and then whoever’s center. Two All-NBA players, three All-Stars, and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in you’re starting five, and you come back to try to win another title in ’26-’27.”

Lillard would slot into the Celtics’ starting lineup when healthy. His scoring and playmaking would ensure Jayson Tatum isn’t expected to carry a significant workload as he works his way back to full fitness. Despite suffering an Achilles tendon injury this season, Lillard enjoyed a strong campaign for Milwaukee. He averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 58 outings, shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.6% from deep.

Lillard Might Not Fit Boston’s Needs

The Celtics have tried to make things work with ball-dominant guards before. Both Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker failed to gel next to Jaylen Brown and Tatum. Boston is at its best when both guards can operate as facilitators, off-ball scorers and versatile defenders.

Lillard needs the ball in his hands to be effective. Even this past season, when sharing the floor with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the All-Star guard dominated his team’s touches-per-game, averaging a team-high 85.9 touches per game.

As such, the Celtics may look elsewhere for an additional star. Lillard’s limited defense could also be an issue. Joe Mazzulla expects his players to be viable defenders in space. Lillard is the sort of defender who is best served being hidden elsewhere on the floor.

Lillard Sends Message to Interested Teams

On Thursday, July 3, Lillard sent a message to any team that has an interest in acquiring him.

“If they call it a ‘gamble’ at this stage… tell ’em this [is] the jackpot. #ToBeContinued,” Lillard posted on X.

Lillard is 34 years old. He’ll be nearing 36 by the time he’s recovered from his current injury and is cleared to play again. Therefore, it’s logical that multiple teams around the NBA will be hesitant to sign him to a contract. A nearly 36-year-old coming off an Achilles injury is hardly the type of player you build your team around.

Nevertheless, Lillard’s All-Star skill set will likely win out. There will be a handful of teams willing to look past his recent injury and his advancing age. After all, his game is based more on skill than it is athleticism. Therefore, his age-related decline should be gradual, rather than all at once.

Whether Boston sees value in adding Lillard to its rotation will remain to be seen. It’s clear the Celtics need to retool the current roster. However, adding an aging star may not be the path Brad Stevens wants to take.