NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics not pursuing move for Damian Lillard?

NBA Trade Rumors: Have the Boston Celtics truly pulled out of their pursuit of Damian Lillard? 

If the Portland Trail Blazers were going to trade Damian Lillard to a team with the best offer, in order for that to happen there needed to be a market to set itself. The Miami Heat is aggressively pursuing Lillard. That we know for sure. But what other “contending” teams could make a strong pitch to the Blazers for Lillard?

One of those teams that perhaps the Blazers hoped could emerge a serious landing spot or even used to big against the Heat, was the Boston Celtics. They have intriguing assets, a strong stockpile of future picks, and present a winning environment with their strong roster. In a vacuum, the Celtics are one of the other teams that Lillard should want to play for.

But, at least for now, that isn’t the case. Lillard still wants the Heat and has started making a “mess” in doing so.

To add to the Blazers’ difficulties in creating a strong market for Lillard, the Celtics are also not pursuing Lillard. According to a report from the Boston Globe, the Celtics are not expected to be in the mix for Lillard. And that’s probably more to do with the fact that the team is focused on extending Jaylen Brown at the moment.

From all indications, it’s hard to envision a way in which the Celtics are able to land Lillard without attaching its best and most realistic asset, Brown, in any offer.

The Boston Celtics don’t need Damian Lillard

Even though it’s somewhat strange to hear a contender “pass” on Lillard, the Celtics are not a team that needs Lillard. This is a championship-ready roster that has made additions already thus far in the offseason in the way of Kristaps Porzingis. This roster is already top-heavy and that would even be the case further if they were to acquire Lillard.

My concern for the Celtics would rely on this idea: How much better is a core of Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps than one of Tatum, Brown, Kristaps, and depth?

It may not be better at all. And that’s perhaps one of the reasons why the Celtics have elected or are leaning toward not making an all-out pursuit of Lillard at this time.

Of course, anything can change at any given moment. At least for now, though, it doesn’t appear as if the Heat will have to compete with the Celtics for Lillard. And that’s not exactly news to Portland’s ear.