Jayson Tatum won’t have the opportunity to suit up next to Damian Lillard with the Boston Celtics this season. Although Tatum made it clear that he wanted to play with Lillard, the superstar point guard was ultimately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
- In an interview conducted with Tougher and Rich on 98.5 The Sports Club on Tuesday, Tatum explained the failed recruiting attempt.
Lillard and his team made it clear that playing for the Miami Heat was his dream destination. That didn’t stop Tatum or other stars around the league from attempting to persuade Lillard. Ultimately, the Celtics will likely have to go through Lillard and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference to win a championship.
Although the Celtics missed out on Lillard, they quickly upgraded their guard position. The team traded for former Bucks guard Jrue Holiday in response to the Lillard trade. Although Holiday is not on the same level as Lillard, he still offers amazing help at the position for the Celtics.
Tatum didn’t take it personally that Lillard didn’t want to join him in Boston.
“If people want to go somewhere, you can’t be mad at him. Everyone is entitled to feel what they feel and they should be able to go where they want.
Jayson Tatum said
Although the Celtics missed out on adding Lillard, they’re still a contender in the NBA. The team has one of the strongest starting lineups in the entire league. However, getting through Lillard and the Bucks will make for quite a challenge.
The Celtics have continued to knock at the door of winning an NBA Championship. After signing Jaylen Brown to a long-term extension, they will look to finish the job this year.