Where NBA Insider Ranked Celtics On List Of Damian Lillard Landing Spots

Marc J. Spears doesn’t view the Boston Celtics as the top suitor for Damian Lillard, but he believes they’re among them.

The NBA insider appeared on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Wednesday after it was reported the Milwaukee Bucks intend to buy out Lillard to make room for free-agent center Myles Turner. The seismic storyline surfaced Tuesday and has prompted everyone to question where the nine-time NBA All-Star could play next. The Celtics reportedly are among the interested teams.

Lillard ruptured his Achilles in the NBA playoffs in late April, so the 34-year-old is expected to miss the majority, if not all, the 2025-26 campaign. However, that injury is one of the reasons Spears believes Boston would make sense.

“There’s another guy right there (Jayson Tatum) that Dame could rehab with, in terms of the Achilles,” Spears said. “They’re good friends.”

He also hinted at Boston’s potential once Lillard and Tatum are fully healthy. And given Lillard still hasn’t won an NBA championship, it’s one of the biggest advantages the Celtics might have among the other suitors.

“If you think about it, two years from now what is that team with Dame at point guard? They’re a championship-caliber team again,” Spears said.

Green Teamers probably would feel the same way if Brad Stevens could work some offseason magic and sign Lillard, who’s set to earn his full contract from the Bucks and likely wouldn’t cost the Celtics as much.

Spears ranked the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the Celtics in his top five.