Cs want to sign Damian Lillard (But he's going back to POR)

[Vermont Green]

So he is going to be late 35 or 36 when we see him play for the first time, and coming off an Achilles. Let's say he comes back at 70% of last season. Don't we already have one of that player archetype in Pritchard? Except he at least tries on defense, is 8 years younger, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. If we get him on a minimum, sure whatever. I just wouldn't be optimistic about this changing anything for us.

Through no fault of his own, I fear Lillard may just be a name going forward in his career.

Also, you can't play PP and Dame together. The defense would collapse.

I don't necessarily disagree with this but I also don't think it is as absolute as it gets stated.  For example, CLE plays Mitchell and Garland.  Everyone said that they could never play together but somehow they managed to win 65 games as a team in 2024-25.  Their overall +/- per 100 possessions with Mitchell and Garland playing together was +10.5 in the regular season.  And I know that they bombed in the playoffs but Garland and Mitchell were both injured (as they often are).

Assuming that Lillard signs a taxpayer MLE or less contract (which I think is a reasonable assumption), I am all for bringing Lillard in.  I don't know how they would structure a deal, maybe just wait until next season to be sure his achilles actually heals.  I don't know how it would work, but if you can figure something out, I am for it.

[Roy H.]

I see Lillard as a much cheaper version of Anfernee Simons.  Good offense, poor defense.

The difference is that if we sign Lillard, we get him at a very cheap salary, allowing us to spend more on a big man next year.  I don't think that keeping Simons long-term is a viable path if we also want to significantly upgrade the center position from Garza and Queta.

[Goldstar88]

So he is going to be late 35 or 36 when we see him play for the first time, and coming off an Achilles. Let's say he comes back at 70% of last season. Don't we already have one of that player archetype in Pritchard? Except he at least tries on defense, is 8 years younger, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. If we get him on a minimum, sure whatever. I just wouldn't be optimistic about this changing anything for us.

Through no fault of his own, I fear Lillard may just be a name going forward in his career.

Also, you can't play PP and Dame together. The defense would collapse.

I don't necessarily disagree with this but I also don't think it is as absolute as it gets stated.  For example, CLE plays Mitchell and Garland.  Everyone said that they could never play together but somehow they managed to win 65 games as a team in 2024-25.  Their overall +/- per 100 possessions with Mitchell and Garland playing together was +10.5 in the regular season.  And I know that they bombed in the playoffs but Garland and Mitchell were both injured (as they often are).

Assuming that Lillard signs a taxpayer MLE or less contract (which I think is a reasonable assumption), I am all for bringing Lillard in.  I don't know how they would structure a deal, maybe just wait until next season to be sure his achilles actually heals.  I don't know how it would work, but if you can figure something out, I am for it.

Mitchell is a much better defender than Pritchard and Lillard. I?d take Garlands defense over Lillard. Especially considering dame is in his mid 30?s and coming off an Achilles tear. Lastly, the Cavs have been losing second round of the playoffs every year with those two small guards.

[Phantom255x]

I'd still love to add him. Not like we'd be the ones giving him a high salary and in the league, stars do matter. Yes, Lillard has his flaws, but on this team when everyone's healthy he'd be an awesome #3 and if they can actually have a real PF/C for 2026-2027, that'll still be a very tough team (Lillard, White, Jaylen, Tatum, PF/C with a bench of Hauser, Baylor, Pritchard, Queta, etc. and hopefully 1-2 more rookies emerge like Hugo)

I would feel a lot better if this team had an actual PF/C. Hell, even if Horford miraculously came back I'd feel a little better about this upcoming season. Not "we're contenders" but I'd definitely call us a playoff team, probably even a little above the play-in line

But having a guard-wing group of Lillard, White, Brown, Tatum, Hauser, Pritchard, Baylor, Simons (short term) is not bad at all IMO

[Donoghus]

This is what you get when you have a Gen Zer running your social media account.

https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/1945525352303939757

[Roy H.]

This is what you get when you have a Gen Zer running your social media account.

https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/1945525352303939757

Haha.

Maybe he can try 000

[dannyboy35]

I see Lillard as a much cheaper version of Anfernee Simons.  Good offense, poor defense.

The difference is that if we sign Lillard, we get him at a very cheap salary, allowing us to spend more on a big man next year.  I don't think that keeping Simons long-term is a viable path if we also want to significantly upgrade the center position from Garza and Queta.

   I agree with this . I?m wondering whether Simons is the better player ( only because of the unknown result of Dame?s injury.) Part of me fears we get the worst we saw of Kemba Walker after he lost his spurt.
  But like you are saying he would be cheaper etc. Have you thought of any bigs good enough that you think could be possible to acquire next year?

[Roy H.]

I see Lillard as a much cheaper version of Anfernee Simons.  Good offense, poor defense.

The difference is that if we sign Lillard, we get him at a very cheap salary, allowing us to spend more on a big man next year.  I don't think that keeping Simons long-term is a viable path if we also want to significantly upgrade the center position from Garza and Queta.

   I agree with this . I?m wondering whether Simons is the better player ( only because of the unknown result of Dame?s injury.) Part of me fears we get the worst we saw of Kemba Walker after he lost his spurt.
  But like you are saying he would be cheaper etc. Have you thought of any bigs good enough that you think could be possible to acquire next year?

Here's a partial list I came up with in another thread, depending upon what direction we go in the off-season:

Centers that make less than our TPE:

Zubac, Poeltl, W. Carter, Gafford, Isaac, I. Stewart

Centers that may be available for S&T:

Porzingis, John Collins, Vukevic, Nurkic, Kessler

[keevsnick]

I see Lillard as a much cheaper version of Anfernee Simons.  Good offense, poor defense.

The difference is that if we sign Lillard, we get him at a very cheap salary, allowing us to spend more on a big man next year.  I don't think that keeping Simons long-term is a viable path if we also want to significantly upgrade the center position from Garza and Queta.

Ya, its doesn't seem likely Simons going to be on the team next year. I think the 2nd apron is going to essentially act as a hard cap for Celtics spending going forward, and if that's the case you have room for maybe one big salary guy outside of White/Brown/Tatum. That guy should probably be a big man, not a scoring combo guard.

I think there's a pretty good chance Simons doesn't even finish the year on the Celtics, he's the most obvious trade candidate from a tax savings perspective. As for Lillard/Pritchard, that's a lineup that maybe you don't want to play during the high leverage playoff games but it can certainly soak up regular season minutes just by being dynamite offensively.

I just continue to see no real downside to Lillard on a two year minimum or mini-MLE deal. Pre-injury he was a clearly better player than either Pritchard or Simons, posy injury he may drop a level or two but I'd still bet on him being a better player than those guys at an even lower price.

[Who]

I don't want Lillard here.

Too much risk with a player his age coming off an injury that serious. He will be too important / his role will be too important. He is a player who will want to start. To give him a starter's role we will have to jettison A Simons (or Pritchard). We will be depending on him to recover and play at a good level (quality starting guard - not All-Star). So we will have to dismantle a strong part of our team just to do this experiment.

Then we will have to wait and play him back into shape. See how his body recovers. See how his defense will be post-injury - likely worst in the league level defense. See if his offense is more valuable than league worst defense. He will take a lot shots.

It will distort the team. It makes planning more difficult. There is no easy fit for him here. We have good players in his position already that we will have to move aside to make room for an old guard coming off a career altering / career threatening injury.

I do not like this risk. It is not the financial risk. It is the team planning / roster problems while we find out whether he can still play or not.

[keevsnick]

I don't want Lillard here.

Too much risk with a player his age coming off an injury that serious. He will be too important / his role will be too important. He is a player who will want to start. To give him a starter's role we will have to jettison A Simons (or Pritchard). We will be depending on him to recover and play at a good level (quality starting guard - not All-Star). So we will have to dismantle a strong part of our team just to do this experiment.

Then we will have to wait and play him back into shape. See how his body recovers. See how his defense will be post-injury - likely worst in the league level defense. See if his offense is more valuable than league worst defense. He will take a lot shots.

It will distort the team. It makes planning more difficult. There is no easy fit for him here. We have good players in his position already that we will have to move aside to make room for an old guard coming off a career altering / career threatening injury.

I do not like this risk. It is not the financial risk. It is the team planning / roster problems while we find out whether he can still play or not.

They will have all season to do that in a year when Tatum will be going through the same process during his return. Thats what the regular season is for, figuring stuff out.

And if it isn't doesn't work out? Cut him or trade him which is easy since he'd be on a one-year low salary deal.

Again, literally no downside here.

[Who]

So he is going to be late 35 or 36 when we see him play for the first time, and coming off an Achilles. Let's say he comes back at 70% of last season. Don't we already have one of that player archetype in Pritchard? Except he at least tries on defense, is 8 years younger, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. If we get him on a minimum, sure whatever. I just wouldn't be optimistic about this changing anything for us.

Through no fault of his own, I fear Lillard may just be a name going forward in his career.

Agreed.

I'd rather keep out young guys Pritchard & A Simons over a 35-36yr old Dame coming off an achilles injury. Decent odds they will be better than him in 2026-27 and certainly will be in 3-4 years from now. We have good long term pieces there. I don't want to give one of them up for the risk of Dame coming off an achilles injury.

Fine if we had no guards. Good risk to take. All upside. Low financial risk. Not putting anyone useful out of a job. But that is not the case.

Our best asset is the Jays at forward. Our 2nd best asset is our 3 guard backcourt of D White, Pritchard and A Simons. I do not see the point in harming something valuable in order to bet on a risk like Dame at 35-36yo coming off a career threatening achilles injury.

[Roy H.]

So he is going to be late 35 or 36 when we see him play for the first time, and coming off an Achilles. Let's say he comes back at 70% of last season. Don't we already have one of that player archetype in Pritchard? Except he at least tries on defense, is 8 years younger, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. If we get him on a minimum, sure whatever. I just wouldn't be optimistic about this changing anything for us.

Through no fault of his own, I fear Lillard may just be a name going forward in his career.

Agreed.

I'd rather keep out young guys Pritchard & A Simons over a 35-36yr old Dame coming off an achilles injury. Decent odds they will be better than him in 2026-27 and certainly will be in 3-4 years from now. We have good long term pieces there. I don't want to give one of them up for the risk of Dame coming off an achilles injury.

Fine if we had no guards. Good risk to take. All upside. Low financial risk. Not putting anyone useful out of a job. But that is not the case.

Our best asset is the Jays at forward. Our 2nd best asset is our 3 guard backcourt of D White, Pritchard and A Simons. I do not see the point in harming something valuable in order to bet on a risk like Dame at 35-36yo coming off a career threatening achilles injury.

What number do you think it would require to sign Simons next off-season?

[Who]

I don't want Lillard here.

Too much risk with a player his age coming off an injury that serious. He will be too important / his role will be too important. He is a player who will want to start. To give him a starter's role we will have to jettison A Simons (or Pritchard). We will be depending on him to recover and play at a good level (quality starting guard - not All-Star). So we will have to dismantle a strong part of our team just to do this experiment.

Then we will have to wait and play him back into shape. See how his body recovers. See how his defense will be post-injury - likely worst in the league level defense. See if his offense is more valuable than league worst defense. He will take a lot shots.

It will distort the team. It makes planning more difficult. There is no easy fit for him here. We have good players in his position already that we will have to move aside to make room for an old guard coming off a career altering / career threatening injury.

I do not like this risk. It is not the financial risk. It is the team planning / roster problems while we find out whether he can still play or not.

They will have all season to do that in a year when Tatum will be going through the same process during his return. Thats what the regular season is for, figuring stuff out.

And if it isn't doesn't work out? Cut him or trade him which is easy since he'd be on a one-year low salary deal.

Again, literally no downside here.

Two downside

(1) Getting rid of A Simons (or Pritchard) to make room for Dame

(2) Team chemistry while we experiment with Dame. Minute allocations in the backcourt. Shot allocations between the stars. Defensive identity.


And if we dump Lillard midseason because he cannot play anymore, how do we get a replacement guard? Sure Lillard will be easy to dump or just not play him / bench him. But someone else will need to step in and play.

We already have a very strong backcourt without Lillard. Just keep those guys together. There isn't room for a guy like Lillard in that backcourt. We already have a defensively vulnerable guard in A Simons and a 2nd small guard in Pritchard. Trying to shoehorn Lillard in there while keeping the other 3 is going to create a bunch of unbalanced lineups that cannot defend. It is going to distort their roles. Guys aren't going to get enough minutes to be happy. Enough shots to be happy. A Simons isn't going to be happy playing 20mpg. Neither is Pritchard. Not anymore. Pritchard is too good / too established to go back to playing 20mpg. One of those guys will have to go to make way for Lillard. That is risk. Or you keep the 3 of them, try to shoehorn Lillard into the team, play a bunch of unbalanced low effectiveness lineups thta damage team chemistry / team identity. That is risk.

[Who]

So he is going to be late 35 or 36 when we see him play for the first time, and coming off an Achilles. Let's say he comes back at 70% of last season. Don't we already have one of that player archetype in Pritchard? Except he at least tries on defense, is 8 years younger, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. If we get him on a minimum, sure whatever. I just wouldn't be optimistic about this changing anything for us.

Through no fault of his own, I fear Lillard may just be a name going forward in his career.

Agreed.

I'd rather keep out young guys Pritchard & A Simons over a 35-36yr old Dame coming off an achilles injury. Decent odds they will be better than him in 2026-27 and certainly will be in 3-4 years from now. We have good long term pieces there. I don't want to give one of them up for the risk of Dame coming off an achilles injury.

Fine if we had no guards. Good risk to take. All upside. Low financial risk. Not putting anyone useful out of a job. But that is not the case.

Our best asset is the Jays at forward. Our 2nd best asset is our 3 guard backcourt of D White, Pritchard and A Simons. I do not see the point in harming something valuable in order to bet on a risk like Dame at 35-36yo coming off a career threatening achilles injury.

What number do you think it would require to sign Simons next off-season?

No idea. It depends on how well he plays this season.

I would try to give him a $25mil a year extension this summer. His price could go up or down from there depending on how he and the team plays during the season. You could get unlucky and some team offers him $30-35mil a year. You could get lucky and it is a bad market for a tweener score first guard and you get him for $20mil a season.

I'd rather try to lock him down early // not roll the dice on that. See if he would be willing to take a $25mil a year extension now.