The Boston Celtics are expected to find a new starting point guard in the 2021 offseason. Trading Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford may have addressed the Celtics’ need for a defensive-minded big man, but it left a huge hole in their backcourt.
When the 2020-21 NBA season is officially over, the Celtics are expected to start their search for a new floor general that would help Jayson Tatum carry the team in the 2021-22 NBA season.
Dream Trade Target For Celtics – Damian Lillard
In the past months, the Celtics have already been linked to several big names who are expected to be available on the trade market in the 2021 offseason. One of the dream trade targets for the Celtics is All-Star point guard Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. If they fail to address the controversy surrounding the team, there’s a strong chance for Lillard and Trail Blazers to head into different directions this summer.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Trail Blazers’ recent hiring of Chauncey Billups and inability to build a legitimate title contender around him may push Lillard "out of the door."
Jaylen Brown As Sacrificial Lamb In Potential Damian Lillard-To-Celtics Blockbuster
Once Lillard expresses his desire to leave, the Celtics are expected to do everything they can to get him out of Portland. However, according to Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston, the Celtics would have to sacrifice Jaylen Brown in order to convince the Trail Blazers to send Lillard to Beantown this summer.
"The Blazers wouldn’t deal Lillard without landing an All-Star talent like Brown, who will make about $ 23 million in 2021-22 and would need to be the centerpiece of a multi-player deal," Hartwell wrote.
Will The Celtics Finally Consider Trading Jaylen Brown?
Trading a very promising All-Star like Brown would undeniably be a difficult decision for the Celtics. However, as of now, they must have already learned from their previous mistakes when they refused to trade their young stars for the opportunity to acquire the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis.
Trading Brown for Lillard is something that the Celtics should strongly consider in the 2021 offseason, especially if they want to have a realistic chance of fully dominating the Eastern Conference and winning the NBA championship title next year.
Damian Lillard On-Court Impact On Celtics
Lillard would be an incredible acquisition for the Celtics. He would give them a massive upgrade at the starting point guard position and a more established superstar to pair with Tatum. Aside from being a great playmaker and an elite three-point shooter, Lillard is also one of the league’s best clutch scorers.
This season, the 30-year-old point guard averaged 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, per ESPN. Lillard would still need time to familiarize himself with the Celtics’ system but if he builds good chemistry with Tatum, Horford, Marcus Smart, and Evan Fournier, Boston would undoubtedly become a tougher team to face in a best-of-seven series.
