Some sections of Boston's fan base may view this as a missed opportunity. Yet, it's vital to put things into perspective.

To that end, a new update has been revealed about Boston's rumored pursuit of Lillard. According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Tatum has been actively recruiting Lillard to the Celtics.

Portland also bought out starting center Deandre Ayton, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. The Trail Blazers still boast two movable veteran contracts in the deals of forward Jerami Grant and center Robert Williams, and could theoretically add younger players who better align with the club's timeline.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/celtics as Celtics Lose Out on Damian Lillard in Shocking $42 Million Signing. Boston Celtics free agent target Damian Lillard has decided to return to the Portland Trail Blazers after two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference.

From Lillard’s perspective, joining the Celtics could give him a realistic shot at a title in 2027, depending on how Tatum recovers and how Stevens and Co. piece together the rest of the roster. The 13-year veteran’s deepest playoff run was a trip to the Western Conference finals with Portland in 2019.

Despite rumors that the Boston Celtics were interested, free agent guard Damian Lillard is signing with the Portland Trail Blazers.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart disclosed his reaction to the Milwaukee Bucks waiving and extending the contract of star point guard Damian Lillard.

Damian Lillard requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2023 summer. He made it known instantly that he didn't want to play for the Boston Celtics. There could have been a few reasons for that, but ultimately, Lillard ended up with the Milwaukee Bucks.