Boston Celtics: Ranking the top 5 Damian Lillard trade destinations

#4 Damian Lillard trade destination: Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers represent a very interesting trade scenario for the Portland Trailblazers because more so than any other team, the Clippers can keep the Blazers at the top of the standings depending on what deal could get done.

After proving capable of making a deep run in the postseason without Kawhi Leonard, perhaps the Blazers can entice Leonard to opt-in to the final year of his deal and get sent to a ready-made contender in Portland with C.J. McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, and Robert Covington. L.A. might be able to be the team to nab draft considerations or other assets in such a deal.

Alternatively, they could decide to pair the two and send Paul George instead of Leonard in a hypothetical deal. PG13 proved once again during the 2021 postseason that he can be the #1 option on a playoff team.

Either player would trump the Boston Celtics’ inclusion of Jaylen Brown in a deal if the team was looking to not take any tangible tumble down the standings next season.

#3 Damian Lillard trade destination: Los Angeles Lakers

You’re going to see many people on social media try to tell you that Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker plus a draft pick is the best offer the Trail Blazers can get for Lillard.

It’s not. By a mile.

That said, if Lillard wants the Lakers, he could cause all the chaos possible to get what he wants. The NBA is a player’s league, and no player holds more bargaining power than the game’s most notable figure, LeBron James.

Lillard, LeBron, and Anthony Davis can, at minimum, win at least one title together. They would undoubtedly be the first team in history to reach banner #18 if they can make that trio happen.