Damian Lillard traded to the Boston Celtics in H.H.’s latest piece

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on October 31, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on October 31, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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Through just over a month, the 2021-22 season has been an absolute whirlwind for the Boston Celtics, as they can’t seem to find a way to stay consistent, be it with their rotations, win-loss record, or simply with their on-court production.

Because of this, many have voiced their opinions on how the team should go about trying to fix their several glaring issues and, more often than not, the subject of in-season trading is viewed as one of the top ways in which Brad Stevens and co. can try and find a solution.

With this, fans and media alike have gone about and concocted lists of trade targets and specific deals that the Cs should look into pursuing at some point this season, and we at the Houdini are certainly on board with this course of action.

Now, while the majority of these proposed transactions have generally found themselves falling into the small or medium demographic in regard to inherent magnitude, there are those out there who believe moves such as these simply won’t cut it for this team and, if Boston really wishes to make a change, they should shoot for the stars and aim for a blockbuster of some sorts.

Jack Simone, editor of our sister site Hoops Habit, appears to be someone with this mindset for, recently, he proposed the idea of the shamrocks pursuing one of the game’s best point guards today in Portland Trail Blazers superstar, Damian Lillard.

In fact, he even came up with his own mega-deal that would send the 31-year-old to Eastern Massachusetts, and the proposed exchange reads as follows:

Citing both team’s early-season struggles, Simone believes the Boston Celtics would easily be interested in bringing on a player of Lillard’s star status while the Trail Blazers could be enticed to make such a deal due to the fact that they’d be able to elongate their playoff contention window by getting younger with the acquisition of All-Star Jaylen Brown:

"Both of these teams have had their fair share of struggles to start the season. In this case, the Boston Celtics would be adding a top-15 player in the NBA in Damian Lillard.Lillard, who got off to a slow start this season, has been picking things up lately. He would join Jayson Tatum in Boston in the quest to bring the city its 18th title.Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers would be finally breaking up the long-time duo of Lillard and CJ McCollum. Instead, they shift gears towards the future, adding a potential centerpiece in Jaylen Brown.Brown and McCollum would, theoretically, still be enough for the team to compete for the playoffs, and he would also improve their horrific defense. They would also receive two young players and two draft picks as well."

By no means is this the first time the Boston Celtics have found themselves linked as a potential landing spot for the perennial All-Star/ All-NBA talent — in fact, just this past offseason the folks at Bleacher Report made a bold prediction stating that Stevens and co. would trade for Lillard by Christmas.

Now, while it’s undeniable that the veteran point guard teaming up with the likes of Tatum would make for arguably the best dynamic duo in the association, the main problem has and will always be the ultimate decision by the front office to opt to part ways with Brown in such an exchange.

A rising two-way star himself who just seems to be getting better after his first All-Star season last year, the inclusion of the 25-year-old (six years younger than Lillard) has been claimed to be a ‘starting point’ when it comes to talks involving the Blazers’ cornerstone.

Through 19 games played this year Lillard finds himself posting averages of 22 points, 7.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds on career-low shooting splits of 39 percent shooting from the floor and 30 percent shooting from deep.

Meanwhile, Brown finds himself sporting averages of 22.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 47 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting from deep, which point to greater efficiency for the sixth-year veteran all while making just about $15 million less on the year.

What say you Boston Celtics fans? With all that we know about each of these players, coupled with how the season is currently going, should the front office pony up and pursue a similar package to the one listed above for the likes of Lillard (would have to include a 2023 and 2025 first-round pick, for they offloaded their 2021 first this past offseason and a team cannot trade such capital in two consecutive seasons)?

Perhaps you are under the impression that the trade package seen here is a bit too steep for your liking?

Whatever the case may be, leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

3 deals to land recently listed trade deadline targets. dark. Next