According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Jayson Tatum attempted to attract Damian Lillard to the Boston Celtics. Lillard, on the other hand, wants the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him to the Miami Heat.
“He’s got that kind of like military basketball mentality,” Spears explained on The Sports by Northwest podcast. “He wishes to work. Also, the organization’s stability and winning, since they’ve been to the (NBA) Finals seven times since 2006. Bam (Adebayo) and Jimmy (Butler) obviously help. The absence of a state tax is advantageous. The sun is beneficial.
“And I think at 33 years old, he looks at the landscape of the West and it’s like, ‘I think my chances are better to go out East. And if Miami is able to make the (NBA) Finals without somebody like myself, what can they do with me?’ So you don’t make that move unless it’s certainly a calculated risk. And I know that Boston, I know Jayson Tatum has called him, try to get in his ear, but his focus is definitely on Miami.”
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT, who has a relationship with Lillard, told Dan Patrick in June that Lillard doesn’t want to play for the Celtics. The Blazers legend’s sole focus is on getting traded to the Heat so he can play with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
A Big 3 of Lillard, Tatum and Jaylen Brown would be lethal, although it’s possible the Celtics would have to trade Brown or Tatum to get Lillard. Boston lost to Miami in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. The team already made a big move this summer, trading Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards.
Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract like Bradley Beal does, so the Blazers can trade him anywhere. Portland wants to get the best return possible for Lillard, who is one of the top players in the NBA.
It’s going to be fascinating to see where Lillard is playing next season. Most people around the NBA believe the superstar point guard will end up with the Heat since teams could be scared to trade for him given how strongly he wants to play for Miami.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season in 58 games. He was named one of the top 75 players of all time in 2022.
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