The Boston Celtics are still licking their wounds from Monday’s Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat. On the morning after their elimination, Stephen A. Smith is ready to shake up the roster.
During Tuesday’s Get Up, the ESPN pundit opposed Boston giving Jaylen Brown a five-year, $295 million supermax extension this offseason. Smith instead encouraged Boston to pursue Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.
“There’s a guy by the name of Damian Lillard in Portland. I wouldn’t mind getting someone like him, who’s a closer by the way,” Smith said.
.@stephenasmith says the Celtics should look to acquire Damian Lillard 👀 pic.twitter.com/HMK1jGDnka
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 30, 2023
Smith questioned whether Brown will accept being the “1A” to Jayson Tatum in Boston. If not, he implored the Celtics to get a “superstar-caliber sniper” in Lillard.
Lillard trade rumors have become all too familiar in NBA circles.Â
Since reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2019, the Blazers suffered two straight first-round eliminations before missing each of the last two offseasons. However, the 32-year-old point guard has expressed no desire to leave Portland after 11 seasons, and the Blazers don’t seem interested in moving the seven-time All-Star.
Perhaps they’d reconsider if able to acquire the 26-year-old Brown, who averaged a career-high 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season.
Smith isn’t the only person to float this suggestion Tuesday. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said Boston should be Boston’s “top target,” but he thinks the Blazers would be more receptive to acquiring Brown for Anfernee Simons and the No. 3 pick.
While still searching for a ring, the Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four years behind Brown and Tatum. They’ll face a significant decision about keeping their nucleus together this offseason.