Boston Celtics rumors: 3 ways to ignite fireworks this offseason

No. 1: Boston Celtics Trade for Damian Lillard

Trading for Damian Lillard would be the ultimate firework not just in Boston, but in the entire NBA. And he may be the only player worth giving up Jaylen Brown for.

Obviously there’s a ton of risk involved, and it’s not likely to happen, but let’s take a look at this hypothetical for a moment. Lillard has been rumored to potentially want out of Portland after their controversial head coach hiring, and is concerned about whether the Trail Blazers can actually build a title contender around him.

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This has sent the NBA into a frenzy, as the potential of having one of the top players in the league on the trade market is a rare occasion. However, the price for Lillard is obviously going to be high, and many teams will immediately bow out as a result. But the Celtics have a potential bargaining chip in Brown that could be used to foster a trade.

The question is whether it would be worth it or not. Lillard has long been one of the top scorers in the game, and his playmaking abilities have taken another step forward over the past two seasons. An offense pairing Lillard with Tatum and others would be downright deadly, and has championship potential that the Celtics lacked last season.

But is giving up Brown worth it? It’s safe to assume the Celtics have no chance of landing Lillard in a hypothetical trade without having to give up either Brown or Tatum. And quite frankly, that may be too much to ask for from Boston.

Despite his continued superstar play, Lillard is going to be heading into his age 31 season, meaning he could only have a few more seasons performing at this level. Meanwhile, Brown will be just 25 next season, and there doesn’t appear to be any slowing down his ascent to the top players in the league. Lillard is certainly the better player now, but will that ring true three years from now?

As with many of the moves the Celtics front office will be faced with this offseason, there is a huge risk associated with making a move of this caliber. But it’s time to take a risk, whether it be making a move for Lillard or not.

Former general manager Danny Ainge waited too long to make a move to finally push the Celtics over the championship hump, and now he’s out of a job. If his replacement, Brad Stevens, doesn’t want to end up in the same spot as him, he needs to take a risk and make a move that will finally push the Celtics over that hump. Lillard is the firework you set off as the grand finale, and Brad Stevens is standing there with a lighter, ready to ignite him; the question is whether or not he will.