Does this trade make sense for the Boston Celtics?
Being able to land a player of Damian Lillard’s caliber without giving up either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown in a trade scenario is…an easy decision. If the Boston Celtics were ever in such a position, they should take advantage immediately without hesitation.
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The Brooklyn Nets teaming up Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and then bringing in James Harden to make a lethal “Big 3” is something that has changed the Eastern Conference. Teams like the Boston Celtics are no longer able to keep up and now a requirement for explosive scoring exists to make a respectable effort.
The best part of this trade scenario for the Celtics is that Damian Lillard’s four-year, $176.3 million contract extension doesn’t kick in until the start of the 2021-22 league-year. Having him signed through the 2024-25 season would go a long way.
When considering Damian Lillard accounts for 35% of the salary cap, the Celtics would need to be savvy with how they fill out the supporting cast around their new “Big 3” given the cap restrictions. Moving those NBA Draft assets to get the deal done would make that difficult, but that’s also when it’s up to management to effectively make decisions on the margins of the roster.
