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.

Maybe it makes sense for Lillard to give Boston a shot. Thoughts change, interests shift, so it might be a good time to experiment.

Damian Lillard, once uninterested in the Boston Celtics, is now reportedly open to joining them, a shift influenced by his friendship with Jayson Tatum. This development follows Lillard's surprising waive from the Milwaukee Bucks,