Damian Lillard has a big decision ahead of him after unexpectedly finding himself on the free agent market while recovering from a ruptured Achilles. One of the teams that the soon-to-be 35-year-old is reportedly considering is the Celtics, who, like Lillard, find themselves in a surprisingly uncertain position for next season.
According to Ashish Mathur of Dallas Hoops Journal, Lillard’s time with Team USA could prove an important piece of his search for a new squad. Lillard and Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum, who is also recovering from a torn Achilles, grew close when they played together for the 2020 Olympic team.
Signing with the Celtics would give Tatum a companion in his rehabilitation process, while setting the team up for a deep 2026/27 playoff run once its star wing recovers. Given the team’s efforts to shed salary this summer, Lillard could represent a lower-cost acquisition with major playoff upside, depending on how he recovers from the injury.
We have more notes from around the Atlantic division:
- The Sixers let reserve Guerschon Yabusele go to the Knicks this summer, reportedly declining to offer a competitive contract to the French forward who played a key bench role last season. According to Keith Pompey of The Inquirer, this isn’t the first time the Sixers have declined to retain players considered to be important bench pieces. He points to Philadelphia allowing Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang to walk in the summer of 2023, which was viewed as a mistake by fans at the time, but ultimately proved to be the correct move. President Daryl Morey is not known as overly sentimental when it comes to role players, but Pompey questions whether that approach might prove to be a mistake this time, especially with the uncertain health of Joel Embiid.
- Dariq Whitehead is not suiting up for the Nets at Summer League this year. Brian Lewis of the New York Post expressed surprise (via Twitter) about that decision, considering the difficulty Whitehead has had trying to bounce back from the injuries that have impeded his development over the last few years. Whitehead has only played 22 games with the Nets in his first two seasons, averaging 5.7 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 44.6% from three last season.
- The Nets‘ Summer League team will be coached by assistant coach Steve Hetzel, Lewis reports (via Twitter). This will be Hetzel’s second season as an assistant with the Nets, following a three-year stint as an assistant coach with Portland.
Dame, small contract, why not?
Celtics make all the sense in the world for him
Honestly Dame to Boston makes the most sense with Tatum also having the same injury, they can rehab together. Dame’s legs don’t have much to do with him shooting 3’s, so Boston’s gameplan of shooting 500000 3’s a game works just fine with Dame in the mix.
Legs don’t have much to do with shooting?
I mean not as much as hands/arms/upper body, but that’s a silly thing to focus on out of what I wrote. Not the point.
Stupid take. Dame is rehabbing at home in Portland no matter where he signs. It was just reported last week. Also, legs are the most important part of every nba player’s game … except for boban maybe. If you can’t run fast or move quickly then you can’t play.
Hes got handles and is shifty. If Dame can get that step back whenever he pleases he’ll be fine for the contract he’s on. Having said that. My God Davey please stop telling people they don’t know ball, lols. Use to close my eyes and shoot for fun or a challenge. Post ankle fusion, I’d be the worst shooter on these boards. I have to roll up a towel under my left heel to bend. Then I splash free throws. Your footwork is the most important thing in most sports man.
Legs are everything in basketball.
Literally legs are where the shot starts. Buddy has the greatest shooter ever on the team he roots for and still doesn’t understand shot mechanics. Davey J you’re hilarious
Literally the most important.
Are you going to flag the “500000 3’s a game” part too? Or can you just never understand when someone is making a lighthearted comment?
The sixers signed Watford(Yabusele) replacement. Yabusele is a decent player but he got crazy minutes with all the injuries and would disappear in games sometimes. He really isn’t a big loss
13Morgs13:
If he isn’t a big boss, why did those minutes go to him and not someone else? Sounds like they could’ve went to anyone, but they went to him for a reason. Sounds like they could’ve just got a replacement big man off the street for the way you’re describing him.
I don’t see Tatum or Dame coming back for playoffs. No need to rush them back either. Best to be ready to go for 3026-27. The playoffs is not the place to test to see if you are ready.
I understand why Sixers let Yabusele walk. Their cap is tight. And are dealing with Grimes now. Plus they picked up Broome in draft. Who can step right in and provide depth. Grimes is a bigger decision. I like Broome. Wish Knicks could have drafted him.
I was hoping Horford would sign in NY. It’s looking like Warriors is a real possibility. If so it would be big for them.