Damian Lillard's Celtics interest revealed by Boston insider

Reports indicate the Boston Celtics are interested in signing Damian Lillard, with suggestions that star player Jayson Tatum is actively trying to recruit him. Their long-standing relationship makes a potential deal feasible. However, moving from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks and now possibly Boston would represent a significant shift for Lillard, who would face intense performance expectations from the demanding Celtics fanbase.

Further complicating a potential move are personal factors: joining Boston would place Lillard on the opposite coast from his family, which has reportedly been a concern for him in the past due to his desire to be near his children.

Despite these challenges, a recent report from the Boston Herald suggests Lillard is now more "receptive" to joining the Celtics than he was in 2023. While the Celtics can only offer Lillard a minimum contract or a $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception (if they make moves to get below the second luxury tax apron), it remains unclear where his priorities lie this offseason.

This marks a change from 2023 when Lillard, after requesting a trade from Portland, explicitly did not want to play for Boston and ultimately joined Milwaukee. The current situation suggests a different outcome might be possible.