Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics star attempted to lure Damian Lillard to Boston amid Heat trade rumors

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 8/31/23

Ever since Damian Lillard asked out of Portland in July, it's been widely considered a forgone conclusion that he'd join the Miami Heat. While the reigning Eastern Conference champions remain in the driver's seat for Lillard's services, Jayson Tatum tried his best to lure the seven-time All-Star to Boston.

Andscape's Marc Spears said Wednesday on The Oregonian's "Sports By Northwest" podcast that upon Lillard's trade request, Tatum called the Blazers guard to "try to get in his ear" about the possibility of joining the Celtics. Despite Tatum's recruiting pitch, Spears noted that Lillard remains focused on landing with the Heat.

Jayson Tatum called Damian Lillard and "tried to get in his ear" about potentially joining the Celtics, but Dame's focus remains on Miami, per @MarcJSpears via @Oregonian pic.twitter.com/6yoyefIxbh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 31, 2023

On paper, Lillard looks like an ideal replacement for Marcus Smart, who Boston traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in June. While lacking Smart's defensive chops, Lillard's elite offensive game — evident by his career-best 32.2 ppg scoring average last season — could be the type of firepower that would finally get Boston over the hump in the East. Plus, any defensive shortcomings in Lillard's game could be minimized by sharing a backcourt with Derrick White, who earned All-Defensive second-team honors in 2023.

However, Lillard has long been sour on the thought of playing in Boston.

Amid rumblings that the Celtics reached out to inquire about Lillard following his trade demand, TNT's Chris Haynes informed "The Dan Patrick Show" that the 33-year-old has zero desire to team up with Tatum in Boston.

Since poking around the Lillard market, the Celtics have inked Jaylen Brown to a supermax extension and acquired Kristaps Porzingis via trade.

The two moves end any real possibility of Boston making a run at Lillard and strengthen the probability that he joins their rivals in Miami. The Celtics and Heat have met in the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four years, with Miami holding the slight edge, two series to one.

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