Boston Celtics: Ranking Jayson Tatum among possible Damian Lillard sidekicks

Damian Lillard’s #4 best potential sidekick: Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler has proven capable of coexisting with stars before. He thrived in Chicago playing alongside Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol during the waning days of being able to call them a “star” and then did the same when the Bulls acquired Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.

Then again, there was a very ugly tenure in Minnesota alongside Karl-Anthony Towns that caused many to see Butler as more of a lone-wolf type.

After that, he was the solo star in Miami leading them to the postseason (including knocking off the Boston Celtics last year in the bubble), though he arguably helped Bam Adebayo ascend to such a level the last two years with the Heat.

This is all to say that Butler has had mixed results as a teammate, but has proven capable of doing great things in the right situation.

Damian Lillard’s #3 best potential sidekick: Jayson Tatum

You are searching in all the wrong places if you’re looking for the Houdini to question Tatum’s ability to coexist with Lillard in a Boston Celtics uniform. You’re also not going to find blatant homer-ism here saying he would be the best sidekick to Lillard.

Both players are born for the big moment, and a second basketball doesn’t magically appear at the end of games so both could seize the day.

Ultimately, though, one of the two would have to concede considering how Tatum’s game is predicated.  That makes this pairing worse than the best two potential Lillard tandems.