The Boston Celtics were one of the two teams that ended up as runners-up in the Damian Lillard sweepstakes, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reports.
“Over a dozen teams made minimum and mid-level exception offers to Damian Lillard. Two teams in particular, I’m told, that Damian Lillard really considered, and that’s the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Charania said on “NBA Today” on July 18. “He held calls with both teams at different points.”
Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who, like Lillard, is rehabbing from a torn Achilles, led the recruiting pitch, according to the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.
“Damian Lillard remains a free agent but is considering his options, and the Celtics are indeed one of them. The nine-time All-Star is in no hurry to sign, but the Celtics are interested in a multi-year deal that would allow him to return fully healthy from his torn Achilles for the 2026-27 season in a Celtics uniform along with a healed Tatum for a title run. According to NBA sources, Jayson Tatum has been active in recruiting Lillard to Boston, and the market for the point guard is limited because his injury will prevent him from likely playing most of next season,” Washburn wrote on July 12.
Why Damian Lillard Turned His Back on Celtics
The Celtics offered the nine-time All-Star a chance to team up with Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to make a championship run when he returns for the 2026-27 season.
Lillard, however, prioritized his family over money and championship aspirations.
“But to be in Portland back home with his three young kids, that was by far the most important factor I was told in his return to the Trailblazers,” Charania said. “And he was going to spend the year rehabbing in Portland anyway from that Achilles tear. But to return to Portland, the franchise that he, obviously, is an icon in, that meant a lot to him.”
Brad Stevens Confirms Al Horford is Leaving
The Celtics have broken up their 2024 championship core this offseason, trading away veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to slash their staggering $500 million payroll with Tatum injured.
But Porzingis and Holiday are not the only pillars of that championship team who are leaving.
Celtics president Brad Stevens confirmed veteran center Al Horford‘s departure from Boston.
“It’s hard to see Jrue go, it’s hard to see Kristaps go, Luke [Kornet], Al,” Stevens said in an interview with NBA TV during the Summer League in Las Vegas. “It’s just been unbelievable people to have in our group and have added value… I know when they come back to Boston this year, it’ll be pretty special, the tributes to all of them.”
Horford was expected to sign with the Celtics’ 2022 NBA Finals tormentor Golden State Warriors. But he hasn’t done yet, as the 39-year-old center also mulls retirement, according to Andscape’s Marc Spears.
“[Horford] is still considering retiring. He’s not in any hurry,” Spears said. “He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and to a lesser extent the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”
