Damian Lillard is coming to Boston
Scuttle butt around the Boston Celtics has been endless fun ever since Pierce, KG, and The Jet were traded to Brooklyn. The team was loaded with draft picks and potential to pull off every big deal rumored across the NBA for the better part of a decade. Most Celtics fans would tell you that not enough of those rumors became true. I have a feeling the latest whisper may follow suit.
Are you laughing yet? You should be. This offer on the service looks pathetic. Al Horford’s salary, a couple mediore prospects, and a couple bottom of the roster guys? Plus 2 1st round picks? Leave the swaps out. If the Celtics get Lillard the Blazers aint swapping to the end of the draft. It’s NBA 2K hot garbage. We’ve heard for months any deal for Lillard starts and ends with Jaylen Brown. So why give this any thought? The Blazers are idiots and the NBA is a players league.
Look at the Harden deal.
James Harden trade: The particulars
Nets receive: G James Harden from Rockets | 2024 second-round pick from Cavs
Nets trade: C Jarrett Allen & F Taurean Prince & rights to Aleksandar Vezenkov (57th overall pick in 2017) to Cavs | G Caris LeVert, F Rodions Kurucs, three first-round picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) & four first-round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027) to Rockets
Rockets receive: G Caris LeVert, F Rodions Kurucs & three first-round picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) and four first-round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027) from Nets | G Dante Exum & 2022 first-round pick (via Milwaukee) from Cavs
Rockets trade: G James Harden to Nets
Cavs receive: C Jarrett Allen, F Taurean Prince & rights to Aleksandar Vezenkov (57th overall pick in 2017) from Nets
Cavs trade: G Dante Exum & 2022 first-round pick (via Milwaukee) to Houston | 2024 second-round pick to Brooklyn
When you boil it down, it’s essentially one extra 1st round pick for Harden who frankly deserves it over Lillard for the resume. But, if you think 1 more 1st round pick or a couple extra swaps is going to get in the way of this deal you are living in a Danny Ainge haze. Brad Stevens in his first couple months of the job has proven he’s willing to be bold. It makes perfect sense. It’s a regime change. He’s playing with a bit of house money this off season. He can be bold and clear house at his discretion.
Make no mistake. Stevens is working towards something. The extension of Smart, Williams, and Richardson were not just to make his guys happy. Is that move Lillard? It still seems far fetched the Blazers would make that deal, but it Dame forces his way to Boston to team up with his Olympic partner, Tatum who knows?
Take a second to drink the Koolaide. Here’s your line up.
PG Damian Lillard
SG Marcus Smart
SF Jaylen Brown
PF Jayson Tatum
C Robert Williams
Bench: Dennis Schroeder, Kris Dunn, Josh Richardson, Enes Kanter
I’ve seen worse!
There would certainly be an adjustment period with the scorers in Tatum, Lillard, and Brown. I would love to see a scenario where the veteran in Lillard takes a step back in terms of statistics. Similar to Harden in Brooklyn. His biggest value to the team would be his GIGANTIC balls in the 4th quarter and his general “fuck you, pay me” demeanor. Which in turn hopefully would help quell the inflated ego Smart walks around with.
Like I said I’m not expecting this to happen. Maybe I’m in that Danny Ainge haze myself. I have faith Stevens will make a big splash, but this would be Felony Larceny.
Sum-a-bitch does look good in green, though.
