Boston Celtics: Ranking Jayson Tatum among possible Damian Lillard sidekicks

Damian Lillard’s #2 best potential sidekick: Joel Embiid

If the Philadelphia 76ers can somehow pawn off Ben Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason–or find a third team willing to take on his remaining four years and $145+ million remaining on his super max extension–a very scary inside-out threat could be formed…and potentially rule the Eastern Conference for years.

Damian Lillard would open the floor up for Joel Embiid in a way that no teammate of the 2014 #3 overall pick has ever been able to. A high screen-and-roll between the two would set up Embiid for pick-and-pops and easy basket dives for the foreseeable future.

It’s not hard to imagine Lillard being the missing piece for the 76ers in the slightest.

Damian Lillard’s #1 best potential sidekick: Steph Curry

The Golden State Warriors aren’t the likeliest of landing spots for Lillard considering they already have a floor general. Then again, that didn’t stop them from landing D’Angelo Russell in the 2019 offseason.

Lillard would fit a lot more smoothly in the offense considering his experience playing off-ball alongside C.J. McCollum. He and Steph Curry clicking would signal the end for the rest of the league if the defense on the perimeter wouldn’t suffer too much because of the pair’s lack of defensive aptitude.

They may just be able to score enough to make it not matter, though. Curry has already made sacrifices to accommodate Kevin Durant, so it’s not far-fetched that he’d do the same for the Oakland-born Lillard.