Superstar point Damian Lillard has requested to be traded from the Portland Trail Blazers following a remarkable 11-year tenure that saw Lillard cement himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history. While he has made it clear that he desires to play for the Miami Heat, that hasn’t stopped Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
According to Senior NBA writer Marc J. Spears, Tatum called Lillard and tried to recruit him to join forces in Boston. But according to Spears, there was no luck. “I know Jayson Tatum’s called him. Tried to get in his ear. But his focus is definitely on Miami.”
Yet another source confirms Lillard’s Miami-or-bust approach to his ongoing trade situation. If Lillard won’t forego this mindset to go to a big-market team with legitimate championship aspirations such as the Boston Celtics, then what other team stands a chance?
While the Heat and Blazers remain at a standstill in their negotiations, other teams have been detoured from making an offer because Lillard was infatuated with Miami.
If the Celtics were to acquire Lillard, what would trade? They just made their All-NBA wing, Jaylen Brown, the highest-paid player in NBA history, and as a result of his new contract, he cannot be traded until July 1, 2024. The Celtics also traded for big man Kristaps Porzingis this offseason, giving him a two-year, $60 million extension.
Tatum’s unsuccessful pitch to Lillard only adds fuel to the fire surrounding and the Heat are widely expected to land Lillard at some point this upcoming season.
