Damian Lillard reportedly ‘really considered’ signing with Celtics before returning to Trail Blazers

The Celtics weren’t able to land Damian Lillard, but it appears that they were among the finalists to land him before he ultimately decided to agree to a deal to return to the Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Boston was one of the teams that Lillard “really considered” among the group of several teams that made him an offer,

according to ESPN’s Shams Charania

“Over a dozen teams made minimum and mid-level exception offers to Dame,” Charania said on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “Two teams in particular, I’m told, that Damian Lillard really considered: Celtics and the Timberwolves. He held calls with both teams at different points.

“But to be in Portland, back home with his three young kids, was by far the most important factor in his return to the Trail Blazers.”

Charania didn’t clarify if the Celtics offered Lillard the veteran’s minimum or the mid-level exception. However, as of Saturday, Boston isn’t able to offer the $5.685 million taxpayer’s mid-level exception as its payroll is right at the second luxury tax apron. So, it would’ve needed to shed more salary to offer Lillard more than the $3.634 million veteran’s minimum.

Still, those offers wouldn’t have beaten what the Trail Blazers gave him, at least from a financial standpoint. Lillard, who turned 35 on Tuesday, agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with Portland on Thursday. That deal also includes a player option for the 2027-28 season and a no-trade clause for Lillard.

Not only does the Trail Blazers’ contract give Lillard some power, but he’ll also make $14 million on an annual basis, including in the 2025-26 season as he’s set to miss most of the year due to an Achilles tear. Of course, the Celtics are already dealing with Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. If they were somehow able to sign Lillard to the deal he got from the Trail Blazers, Tatum and Lillard would’ve accounted for roughly $68 million against the cap, a large number for two players who are likely to miss the majority of the season.

Lillard’s injury didn’t stop the Celtics from making an effort to land him, though. Tatum

was also reportedly involved in the team’s pursuit

of the nine-time All-Star as some insiders believed Boston was a realistic landing spot for Lillard.

While Lillard likely wouldn’t have been able to contribute much in 2025-26, he would’ve given the Celtics some future depth they need at guard. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are their only two guards under contract for the 2026-27 season. Veteran Anfernee Simons, whom the team traded for this offseason, is entering the last year of his deal.

If the Celtics are still looking to add some depth to their backcourt this offseason, there are a handful of notable options on the open market. Former Celtics and 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year winner Malcolm Brogdon is a free agent. Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are also free agents, but they’ve mostly been linked to West Coast teams.