Boston Celtics: How much better would Dame make the Cs?

The Boston Celtics have a new trade target this offseason: Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard, Damian Lillard.

Recent reports suggest the Weber State product could request out soon, with the team’s failure to build a championship contender listed as a major factor.

Even though Danny Ainge is no longer with the team, the Cs manage to find themselves in every potential trade for a franchise-altering talent. With Jayson Tatum asserting himself as a top 15 player in the league from this past season, it is now the job of both Brad Stevens and new head coach, Ime Udoka, to build a competitive roster around him.

Unfortunately, the price to acquire a player of Dame’s caliber is quite steep, especially considering his current contract.

He has an extension set to kick in next season, earning him $176 million over the next four years, starting at $39 million in 2021-22. Although it’s a hefty price, the ability to have team control over a proven superstar for at least three full seasons is appealing no matter what.

Who would the Boston Celtics need to give up?

Many want to see Damian Lillard in Boston Celtics green, but that idea is going to be extremely hard to accomplish without Jaylen Brown being sent in return. With the team control that Lillard is under, there is no rush to trade him from Portland’s point of view, unless he acts similarly to James Harden in Houston this past season.

Jaylen is the most appetizing piece that the Cs have to offer in a swap for Dame, as a package of Marcus Smart, Aaron Nesmith or Romeo Langford, and first-round picks can get outbid easily. If that’s the offer on the table from Boston, why would the Trail Blazers accept it when teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to offer up Ben Simmons?

Therefore, if the Boston Celtics really want to make a run at Dame, they are going to have to come to terms with moving on from Jaylen Brown, despite how great he’s been for both this franchise and community.

Even then, however, it might not be enough to entice Portland into trading their franchise icon.

Jaylen Brown had an All-Star season, averaging 24.7 points, six rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 48.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Those types of numbers, along with above-average defense, are the signs of a star in this league, and he’s only 24. He’s grown alongside Tatum during his tenure in Boston and has the potential to be the best player in his draft class.

As for Dame, he had another terrific season at age 31.

His numbers read as follows: 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists on 45.1 percent shooting from the field, and 39.1 percent from deep.

In his ninth year in the league, he only seems to be getting better, recording an all-time playoff performance in game five against the Denver Nuggets. He’s one of the most clutch players in the league — an area in which the Boston Celtics immensely struggled this season.

The question is, would the acquisition of Lillard make the shamrocks that much better considering what they would have to give up?

The Boston Celtics need to win a championship under Lillard’s contract if this trade were to happen, or else it would be a massive mistake for the future of this organization.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Whatever they are, share them in the comments section below!