Perhaps the Boston Celtics will be setting off summer fireworks after all. According to The Athletic, the NBA's original monarchy has an interest in signing Damian Lillard.
The Milwaukee Bucks stunningly opted to waive and stretch Lillard. He has $113 million in remaining salary. It is the largest contract waived in league history. The driving force behind that decision and poaching center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers was, of course, the franchise's hope of keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo for the foreseeable future.
Just as that once led to Jrue Holiday helping Boston raise Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters, it could result in Lillard donning Celtics green.
"League sources say the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers are known to be among the many teams that would have interest in doing a deal sooner rather than later," The Athletic reports.
Whether Lillard prefers to find a new NBA home quickly is anyone's guess. As he rehabs from a torn Achilles, an injury suffered in the playoffs, he could choose to wait until next summer.
Should the Celtics sign Lillard?
The seven-time All-NBA selection may desire the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles or the on-and-off-court benefits of teaming with Stephen Curry in the Bay Area. The latter would represent a homecoming for the Oakland, California, native.
Among an abundance of other potential options is the chance for Lillard to finally take his talents to South Beach after not getting his wish upon leaving the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, signing with Boston is a stylistic fit offensively. Lillard's a shot creator with a penchant for threes off the bounce. His extended range pulls the defense up, opening scoring opportunities for a group that, when healthy, would allow him to share the floor with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.
Lillard's also an ideal floor-spacing catch-and-shoot threat to team with that trio and feast off their downhill attacks. The Celtics launched the most threes in the regular season last year. It's reasonable to think the soon-to-be 35-year-old guard will lose a step or two thanks to age and injury. However, he figures to remain a dynamic threat from behind the arc.
The concern about signing an undersized guard at this stage of his career is that he was already a defensive target. When he returns from his Achilles tear, the six-foot-two, 13-year veteran will get hunted relentlessly. That's not a dramatic change for him, but the volume at which it happens figures to increase.
The reason it's worth it for Boston to gamble on the nine-time All-Star is the projected cost of his next contract.
Damian Lillard now represents a low-cost wager
Teams can try to sign the NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection to a veteran minimum contract. However, it will likely take at least a bit more than that.
The Celtics are rostering 15 players, which puts them at the regular-season max. Maneuvering to free up a spot and the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception shouldn't prove much of a hassle, though.
Even at small stakes, if Lillard goes to the highest bidder, that's probably not Boston. Remember, the franchise has limited flexibility. The organization lost Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs and could soon see Al Horford depart.
Still, Lillard can find comfort on a team with the Celtics' top-end talent. He'd relish the chance to play in Joe Mazzulla's offense. And rehabbing with Tatum as he recovers from the same injury should be beneficial for both.
It's a low-risk chance for Boston to add offensive firepower as it grapples with the restrictions of building around Tatum, Brown, and White. The incentives for Lillard to join the Celtics make this a compelling match for both sides.