Damian Lillard was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks just months after suffering a ruptured Achilles. While the All-Star point guard is expected to miss most of next season, he is already drawing interest as a free agent around the league.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports that there is mutual interest between Lillard and the Boston Celtics. While the All-Star point guard wasn’t “keen on” playing for Boston a few seasons ago, he is now open to joining the team and potentially playing alongside Jayson Tatum when both are healthy.
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- Damian Lillard stats: 24.9 PPG, 7.1 APG< 4.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 44.8% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 0.175 Win Shares per 48 Minutes
Lillard would be a particularly intriguing fit with Boston. The Celtics are poised to take a significant step backward next season after trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. There is also a real possibility that Tatum could miss the entire season after suffering a torn Achilles.
Any team that signs Lillard would likely do so on a two-year deal, allowing Boston to benefit from healthier versions of Lillard and Tatum playing together for the 2026-27 NBA season.
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However, it is fair to wonder how a point guard in his mid-30s will fare coming off an Achilles injury. The Celtics would, in a sense, be doubling down on risk, with both Tatum and Lillard returning from Achilles injuries.
If it worked out, however, Boston would have an All-Star point guard to pair with Tatum, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown for the 2026-27 campaign. While there is mutual interest between the two sides, it is unlikely that the Celtics would be considered one of the favorites to sign Lillard at this point.
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