Brad Stevens Was Secretly Happy When Jayson Tatum Failed To Recruit Damian Lillard To The Celtics

Brad Steven was reportedly relieved when Jayson Tatum's efforts to recruit Damian Lillard to the Celtics failed.

4 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

• Jayson Tatum failed to convince Damian Lillard to join the Boston Celtics

• Celtics analyst John Karalis believes Brad Stevens is secretly happy the recruiting pitch failed

• The Celtics made a big summer move by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis

After it became clear that Damian Lillard was looking for a way out of the Blazers this summer, Jayson Tatum reportedly contacted Lillard to try and convince him to join the Celtics. The pitch failed and Boston Sports Journal writer John Karalis believes Brad Stevens is happy about the same.

“I bet Brad Stevens is secretly happy that Jayson Tatum’s recruitment of Damian Lillard didn’t work. How the hell was he going to match a $45 million salary with anything better than Miami without including Jaylen Brown? I can see Brad pulling Tatum into his office and politely asking to be made aware of any future recruitment plans that might put him on the spot.”

The issue has become moot anyway. Lillard has made his desire to join Boston’s biggest rivals in the East, the Miami Heat, abundantly clear. Instead of playing alongside Tatum and competing for championships, it seems Lillard would much rather play against Tatum and win championships at his expense.


Did The Celtics Dodge A Bullet?

There was no way for the Celtics to acquire Lillard without having Jaylen Brown on offer. If Lillard was open to the idea, Boston likely trade Brown to the Blazers before giving him the richest contract in NBA history

The Celtics would also not make the Kristaps Porzingis move, needing a backcourt partner for Lillard like the defense-oriented Marcus Smart.

The Porzingis trade is already a big risk given the Latvian’s concerning injury history, so the Celtics were going to make a swing trade that made them uncomfortable regardless. Keeping the Tatum and Brown duo in the middle of their prime together may be a better team-building decision than breaking it up for maybe two more seasons with Lillard in his prime.


Will Damian Lillard Find A New Team Before Training Camp?

Lillard has dug his feet in for the last two months and has been adamant about being traded to the Miami Heat. It’s clear that the Blazers are unwilling to send him there, so it’s just a question of who blinks first. 

There could be other options if Lillard was willing to listen but the 33-year-old point guard is using this trade request like free agency. Unfortunately, he’s under a long-term contract with the Blazers that gives Portland full control of his future destination. But with Lillard possibly not reporting to play elsewhere, no other team will give the Blazers a good offer. 

Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists last season and made the All-NBA Second Team. He’s still one of the best point guards in the league, but it’s unlikely that the Blazers trade him for an equal-value package.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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