The Boston Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship, are reeling from the departure of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, with Al Horford’s future uncertain. As the franchise navigates a 2025 offseason in flux, NBC Sports Boston’s Gary Washburn has urged the Celtics to target Damian Lillard, recently waived by Milwaukee and available for a $5.6 million mid-level exception. Despite his Achilles injury, Lillard’s 24.9 points and 37.6% 3PT shooting could lighten Jayson Tatum’s load, but his ball-dominant style and defensive limitations raise questions.
The Celtics’ Roster in Flux
The Celtics’ 2024 championship roster (64-18, 1st in defensive rating at 110.6) has been gutted, with Holiday traded to New Orleans, Porzingis to Washington, and Kornet signing with Cleveland, per ESPN. Al Horford, 39, remains unsigned, with retirement rumors swirling, per The Athletic. Jayson Tatum (30.3 points, 8.8 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (23.0 points, 39.0% 3PT) anchor the core, alongside Derrick White (15.2 points, 1.2 blocks, Defensive Player of the Year candidate), per Basketball-Reference. The Celtics’ $198.4 million payroll, $9.4 million below the second apron, offers flexibility to use the $5.6 million mid-level exception for Lillard, per Spotrac. Gary Washburn argues Lillard’s low-cost deal makes him a “cheap” addition to a lineup with two All-NBA stars (Tatum, Brown) and three All-Stars, per NBC Sports Boston. X posts, like @CelticsCentral, reflect urgency: “Losing Holiday and KP hurts—Lillard could be our answer!”
Lillard’s Fit and Value
Lillard, waived by Milwaukee after a 49-33 season and first-round playoff exit, posted 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 44.8% FG and 37.6% 3PT in 58 games in 2024-25, despite an Achilles injury, per Basketball-Reference. His 1.3 points per possession in pick-and-roll (88th percentile) and 7.1 assists could ease Tatum’s playmaking burden (3.5 turnovers per game), per Synergy. At 34, Lillard’s skill-based game—ranking 7th in three-pointers made (3.0 per game)—suggests sustained production, per NBA.com. His X post on July 3, 2025, calling himself “the jackpot,” signals confidence, per the provided source. A two-year, $5.6 million deal, with Lillard sitting out 2025-26 to recover, could see him return in 2026-27 alongside Tatum, Brown, White, and a new center, potentially elevating Boston’s 3rd-ranked offense (120.1 points per 100 possessions), per Cleaning the Glass. X posts, like @NBAAnalysis, hype, “Dame in Boston? That’s a scary lineup if he’s healthy.”
Challenges of Integrating Lillard
Lillard’s ball-dominant style (85.9 touches per game, tops on Milwaukee) clashes with Boston’s fluid system, which thrives on off-ball movement and facilitation from Tatum (8.1 assists) and White (5.2 assists), per NBA.com. Past experiments with ball-heavy guards like Kyrie Irving (20.8 points, 2.0 turnovers in 2018-19) and Kemba Walker (19.3 points, 36.0% 3PT in 2019-20) failed to mesh, leading to early playoff exits, per ESPN. Lillard’s defensive limitations—0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, often hidden on weaker matchups—don’t align with Joe Mazzulla’s switch-heavy scheme, which ranked 1st in defensive versatility (1.4 steals per game), per Synergy. His Achilles injury, sidelining him for 24 games in 2024-25, raises concerns at age 36, per The Ringer. The Celtics’ 10th-ranked paint defense (46.2 points allowed) needs a center, not a guard, to replace Porzingis’ 1.9 blocks, per NBA.com. X posts, like @CelticsFanatic, caution, “Lillard’s offense is elite, but his defense could break our system.”
Alternative Options and Roster Needs
Boston’s roster gaps—center depth and bench scoring (13th, 34.5 points)—suggest other targets. Free agents like Nikola Vučević (17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds with Chicago) or trades for Clint Capela (11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds) could address the 15th-ranked rebounding (43.2 per game), per HoopsHype. Developing Neemias Queta (5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds in 2024-25) or signing a veteran like Andre Drummond ($3.3 million) offers cost-effective rim protection, per Spotrac. For guard depth, a 3-and-D player like Kenrich Williams (6.9 points, 37.1% 3PT) fits better than Lillard’s ball-heavy style, per Bleacher Report. The Celtics’ $5.6 million mid-level exception could also target younger guards like Ayo Dosunmu (12.2 points, 40.3% 3PT), preserving defensive identity, per The Athletic. Trading for a star like Brandon Ingram risks cap penalties, with Boston’s payroll nearing the second apron, per Spotrac. X posts, like @CelticsTalk, suggest, “We need a big man more than Dame—Vučević or Capela makes us champs again.”
Strategic Implications and Risks
Pursuing Lillard is a high-risk, high-reward gamble. His 37.6% 3PT shooting and 7.1 assists could boost Boston’s 7th-ranked three-point attempts (38.8 per game), complementing Brown’s 2.1 three-pointers per game, per NBA.com. However, his $5.6 million deal, while affordable, commits Boston to a 36-year-old recovering from a major injury, potentially disrupting chemistry with Tatum and Brown, who led a +7.2 net rating in 2024-25, per Cleaning the Glass. A 2026-27 return risks rust, and Lillard’s 2.8 turnovers per game could hurt Boston’s 12th-ranked turnover rate (13.2%), per Basketball-Reference. Brad Stevens’ preference for two-way players, like Holiday (2.0 steals), suggests caution, per NBC Sports Boston. Lillard’s addition could make Boston favorites (+400 odds, per FanDuel), but a center like Capela aligns better with their 1st-ranked defensive identity. X posts, like @NBABuzz, debate, “Dame’s a superstar, but a healthy big man keeps Boston on top.”
The Boston Celtics face a pivotal offseason after losing key pieces, and targeting Damian Lillard could add star power to their championship core. However, his ball-dominant style, defensive limitations, and injury concerns clash with Boston’s two-way identity, suggesting a center or defensive guard might better address roster needs. Will the Celtics roll the dice on Lillard’s scoring, or prioritize rim protection? Celtics Nation, should Boston sign Lillard or focus on a big man?