Would Damian Lillard Help or Hurt the Boston Celtics?

Would Damian Lillard Help or Hurt the Boston Celtics?

[Music] Welcome to Hold My Banner. We’re here. I’m Adam Peller and my guy Campbell. What’s up? Reunited. And it feels so good.
It does feel very good. And it feels good because Celtics Nation has a little rumors floating around. And that always feels good to talk about. So we’ll talk about some of those rumors. We’ll talk about a recent signing by the Los Angeles Lakers. see if that gets them over the top or not with LeBron James and Luca Donuch in company. Uh but first, let’s uh just dive right into it. The biggest question that I have for you this entire show.
Yeah.
What are you doing this weekend? Fourth of July, man. Yeah. I think I’m going to spend some time in New England. I’m going to get on the water. You know what I mean? Maybe a little boat action here and there.
Look at you, Captain Campbell.
Little food and some water. You know, I got to stay hydrated throughout the day. It’s going to be a long day, you know. So, I’m excited. What about you?
Uh, hydration is very important. Uh, I’ll be hitting the links, my friend, tomorrow morning. Have a little family cookout. Okay. Maybe head to the Cape.
Oh, okay.
Yeah. You know, I mean, you’re not a local guy. I don’t know if you’ve done the Cape thing yet, but
I’ve done it. I’ve done it a couple of times. It’s pretty nice out there. I can’t complain. Can’t complain.
All right. Well, I don’t know if the Cape would be a selling point for Damen Lillard.
Oh god.
Do you think that Damen Lillard would enjoy Cape Cod? That’s the question. Would he enjoy playing for the Celtics? And you know, the reports are out there. Celtics and Lakers among the teams interested in Dame, of course, getting his release from Milwaukee, which opened the door for the Bucks to get more financial flexibility and sign Miles Turner. And now you got Dame out there again, suffered the Achilles injury in the postseason, one of three devastating Achilles injuries, of course, with Jason Tatum here in Boston and then Tyrese Hallebert. And so Dame’s timeline is kind of similar to that. he got hurt first. So, you know, there’s a possibility he could come back next year, but either way, he’s going to be 35 years old.
Uh you’re probably looking at next season, season after the one coming up. Uh would he be a fit with the Celtics?
Here’s the thing. What version of Damen Lillard will we be getting with the Boston Celtics? Are we getting Damen Lillard who’s coming in and I got to shoot the ball 20 times a game? I got to have the ball in my hands the entire game, control the offense, run the flow. We didn’t see that work with Giannis and Giannis is one of the best players in the league. I mean, probably the third best player in the entire NBA right now, right? So, when you’re asking the Jason Tatum, who’s probably the fourth best player in the NBA, but coming off an Achilles injury to play with a guy like Damen Lillard and the JB, I just I I’m not sure how that fits. You know, we saw that with Marcus Smart, and obviously Damen Lillard deserves the respect to be known as a player much better than Marcus Smart because he is that kind of player.
Yeah, he’s much better. Yeah. But, you know, like you said, returning, he’ll probably be 36 when he returns to play basketball. Coming off an Achilles injury. Not a guy that’s always been known for his athleticism, but never been good defensively. You have to think laterally now. He’s not going to be as strong as he was, and he was already kind of a weaker defender in the NBA terms. If we’re getting a Dame who’s willing to buy into a role and for cheap, for cheap. That’s the big thing, too. and a deal that’s not a long-term deal, more of a two-year, three, maybe a three-year deal because obviously we know the first year this upcoming season would be kind of a deal that he would just be getting paid to, you know, rehab.
I’d be interested. What about you?
Yeah, I would be too, but I have a lot of questions like you do, right? And so the Bucks were able to use that stretch provision. By the way, I am no capologist,
right? Yeah.
At all. Um, but he’s owed 13. You got to be a scientist. You really do. which is again, and we’ll get into the CBA stuff coming up later in the show, whether it’s a good or bad thing. But anyway, uh the Bucks were able to use that stretch provision.
They owe him $13 million. So that created some financial flexibility. He’s still getting that money, right? So if you’re Damian Lillard, now you’re getting the best of both worlds, right? You kind of get to well, you get paid and you get to sort of pick your destination, right? And so now he’s in a situation where he’s never won an NBA title. You know, that’s the whole point of the trade to Milwaukee was to try and get something going with Giannis. That obviously didn’t work out.
And now you get to choose a destination.
Yeah.
You’re not going to play next season. And if you do, you know, I I I just don’t see that happening with a guy of his age, right? Because the whole thing with Jason Tatum in the Achilles is that he’s young. He can bounce back. And we’re not even talking about him playing next year. So, wipe next year off the board with Dame Lillard. So, now you’re looking ahead. I think the Celtics would be a desirable destination for him.
You would think he did say no the last time
he did, but that was different, wasn’t it?
It was a different
That was before the the Celtics won the title,
right? Yes. 100%. That was before we knew who the Celtics were and that they did have championship pedigree. That was before people really thought of Jason Tatum as the player that we now think of him today. You know, Giannis was in a way further light. he was le, you know, years and years and light years away from what we thought Jason Tatum was at the time. You know what I’m saying? So, you have to be fair to that. And obviously, the Bucks did win a championship coming coming into that trade for Damen Lillard. So, he did know that, but I think he did have some mean things to say about this fan base that he might have to apologize for if he wanted to come back here. Um, but I’ve known him to be a guy in every single stop of that he’s been in, whether it be in Portland or to be in Milwaukee, to be a guy that embraces the community that he plays for. So, I wouldn’t see him having issu any issues there. Um, but yeah, the question marks all still remain.
Yeah. A good teammate, too. Right. And I don’t know if a lot of people really know who Damen Lillard is, right?
Right. As a person. Yeah.
Because you think of him as, you know, in Portland all those years not winning, right? I mean, the only good player he really played with all, you know, elite player, LaMarcus Aldrey.
Yeah. Yeah. Right.
Uh, but he’s a he’s a good teammate and if he’s a good teammate and he’s at a point in the career where he’s made all this money and he’s achieved all these sort of milestones and whatever, right?
Um, you know, now it’s like all about winning the title, right? So, that leads me to my next question. Would Dame be willing to take a role off the bench
for a prospective team? Right? And if you’re looking at the Celtics and you’re looking at what they have and again this roster is going to be a lot different uh you know even before this coming season without Jason Tatum it’ll be even more different when they anticipate Jason Tatum to come back. Yeah. Yeah.
So you know with all of that said
if Damen Lillard is looking at teams and he’s saying okay do I want to start or do I want to win? Right.
What’s the priority for Dame at this point? Yeah. Well, here’s the thing. I think Dame would want to win, right, more than anything. I think the issue would come in, well, okay, who’s starting over me? You know, I remember when Westbrook was going to the bench and he had that issue of like, well, if I’m not starting, then who’s starting over me? Then when you’re looking at it, it’s like, oh, this guy starting.
I I don’t think that Dame would make a fuss about Peyton Pritchard being that guy starting over him if that were the case, right? But I think personally he would think like I’m much I’m a much better player than Peyton Pritchard. You know, everyone’s always too late on themselves. You know what I mean? Everyone’s always too late. Kobe was too late on, you know, his retirement and all this other stuff. Um, even Paul Pierce was too late on how good of a player he thought he was, you know, here in Boston. And that’s human nature, right? Especially if you’re somebody who has been an elite player their entire life. Yes. and played at a certain level, you think that, you know what, I’m still that guy, right? Even if everybody else is looking at you say, “Yeah, you’re not quite that guy at this point in your career.”
Yeah. So, you know, when you’re looking at a Damen Lillard, I couldn’t blame him if he looks across the room and he says, I mean, Peyton Pitch is a great player, right?
But he’s never end of the year, right? But he’s never amounted to the heights that I’ve, you know, amounted to. And then you have to remember, you know, Dame was out there in Oregon in Portland. And you know, Peyton’s a port Orland, excuse me, a Oregon kid and he went to the University of Oregon. So Dame’s seen this kid, you know, basically grow up into the player that he is. I’ve even seen Damian reach out on Twitter and, you know, congratulate Peyton Pritchard on his accomplishments and all this other stuff. So, it feels like there’s something there between those guys where they already have some camaraderie and know each other and, you know, probably built a relationship over the years of them both being in Oregon. And he’s probably saying like, “That’s Little Bro, you know what I mean? like that’s little bro and you know he might be happy for his success but at the same time he’s probably thinking like I mean I’m a better guy than him I can you know I can score better than him I can facilitate better than him and I mean Damen in a healthy state he’d be right but the question marks remain what is he going to be coming back after this Achilles
and I also wonder too it’s like all right well with with Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum and Derrick White by the way
is there enough to go around are there enough basketballs to go around for those guys. And you wonder if if Dame, who you know, again, is is a career what 25 point game per game goal uh point goal scorer. I’ve been doing all sorts uh point per game score. Uh you know, is he willing to take uh you know, a back seat to those guys? Is he willing to defer to those guys or is he thinking, “No, I’m still that guy.”
Well, I would think so. I think like at the end of
if he if he signs with the Celtics, he definitely is because he knows that guy, right? And also like I think he looks at this team and he’s he’s a he’s a basketball guy. He watches basketball. He loves basketball. He’s avid basketball watcher. So he’s watching the Celtics. You can believe that. Especially when they were making those deep playoff runs when they won a championship last year and when they made it to the as far as they made it in the second round last year. He’s definitely watching those guys play. And if you’re a basketball fan, you’re looking at that team and you’re saying, man, D White can go off for 31 night. Peyton can go off for 31 night. Tatum Brown can go off for 30 in the same night. It might be sometimes where I don’t even cool. I I you know, Boston gave Drew Holiday a lot of love and there was a lot of nights where Drew was under 10 points a game. You know what I mean? But the veteran leadership that he brought to this team helped get them over the hump. There could be nights where Damen Lillard just says, “All right, I didn’t make my first three shots. Tatum Brown, do your thing and I’m just watching and tonight I got nine.” You know what I mean? And then on some other nights where he gets hot and he gets it going because he still has the ab ability to do that. Especially if you’re looking at him as a fourth option and a starting light starting lineup behind White Brown and Tatum. There could be a night where all of a sudden he’s the fourth guy and he going for 40. Yep. And so you know with Damen Lillard I you know I just think about you know back in the day with Ray and KG right willing to take a decreased role in order to get the wins. Uh so if it’s not Boston Yes. Is it is it you know again you know we’ll talk more about the Lakers and the move they just made and the signing they just made but you know would the Lakers be a desirable destination?
Yeah, I think so. I think them or Miami. I think Miami more so than anything. I think like if it’s not the Boston Celtics then it’s Miami and then it’s you know the the Lakers. I just I don’t know. I think
does it depend on whether or not LeBron James plays after this season?
It probably does. That’s a big if. But I just think he’s probably looking and seeing, okay, Himlin and Luca, you know what I mean, in the back court together. Yeah, they’re great players, but two ball dominant players, whatever. I think he looks at Miami as a situation where they need somebody to be ball dominant. If I’m Damen Lillard, like I said, I’m I’m thinking about 12, how many ever time allstars this dude has had. You know what I’m saying? Like, he’s probably thinking, I’m a great player. Like, I can go over here and help somebody win and get paid to do so. And Miami is going to be the place where he can have fun because we know he wants to get out of being in Portland and Milwaukee. That’s what I’m saying though, right? Like that’s the thing. It’s just like, all right, at this point in your career, yeah, winning’s important, of course, right? And being that guy we talked about a little bit, but man,
the opportunity to be the man in Miami or LA, hello. Like, that’s a that’s a big factor. And again, you know, he said what he said a couple of years ago about Boston. Yeah. You know, and I love Boston. I’m from Boston. This is my home. But I understand why guys are like Boston in the winter. I don’t think so. Right. Right. Right. And especially, you know, after watching the offseason that the Celtics have had so far. We’ll talk a little bit more about that probably right now. But, you know, he’s probably looking and saying, “All right, maybe Miami might be a little bit more fun than being in Boston waiting on Tatum to get back.” Obviously, that would be a good thing for him to have somebody to rehab with over the next year. Um, somebody who’s going through the same experience, that might be something that puts him in Boston’s light, but you know, yeah, let’s just talk about that, you know, this off seasonason that they’re having so far. Uh, they made another free agent signing like right after we got off of the last episode. Um, Josh Minot is here in Boston on a two-year deal. You know, reportedly he’s agreed to this. Shout out to Sham Shirania for this tweet. Um, how do you feel about him? like do you have your any first early impressions about Josh May not how do you feel about him being a boss of something?
So the one highlight that I think fans might be familiar with or if they they weren’t familiar with it when they go to YouTube and try to check out his highlights first thing that comes up is him dunk. So that showed his athleticism, right? And, you know, he did a little, you know, further digging. You know, a guy that spent a lot of time in the G- League, you know, filled it up in the G- League. Uh, he’s athletic.
Uh, he can play, he can defend, and he’s a slasher, right? And so, he can get to the rim. Uh, the shooting is not there, right? Not yet.
Right. Not there, but that’s something that can be developed. Yeah. Um, I I think it’s a it’s a good signing for where the Celtics are right now. Yeah.
Right. because they they’re not going to win next year. They’re not going to be a championship contender next year, but they’re getting young players who can develop. Yeah.
And you know, we talk about the shooting being something that he can work on. He can do that next year in a Celtics uniform. And you know, just being in Boston
and then again when Jason Tatum comes back, you know, you know, he’s ready to take that next step and be more, you know, a part of the support uh supporting player role.
Yeah. I mean, I think when you look at the guys that the Boston Celtics have gotten over the last, you know, year or so, when you look at a guy like Mina, when you look at a Baylor Sherman, when you look at a, you know, Yugo Gonzalez, a guy that they dra just drafted, these are all guys that come in and bring immediately energy. They’re energy, energy, energy, energy guys. And so I think like you said, it’s one of those things where the Boston Celtics are taking flyers on young guys who want to be basketball players, meaning they’re in the gym.
They’re in the gym. They’re working hard. And when they’re on the floor, you know that their their impact is there because whether they’re making a mistake or not, they’re doing it going 100 miles per hour. And a coach, a GM, a franchise, a fan base can always appreciate a guy who’s going to give their all. Even if they can’t, their abilities aren’t the best. You always hate a guy like a, no offense, but like a Ben Simmons, a guy who has all the talent and like a guy that we’re going to talk about a little bit later and DeAndre Aiden, but the guy who has all the talent in the world, but then they get out there and they want to be cool guy and they, you know, they’re worried about their fashion off the court and all this other stuff. These are the kind of guys that they’re drafting or bringing around the team or, you know, getting in free agency who are going to come in with their hard hats on every single day and say, “Hey man, I know I might not be able to stick that shot, but I’m going to run through a wall for Jason Tatum. I’m going to run through a wall for Jaylen Brown. You guys are going to have to worry. I’m going to go get a rebound in areas that I shouldn’t be or, you know, whatever. They’re going to make those extra plays and the Boston Celtics are looking for guys like that, especially with JB dealing with the knee injury and Tatum dealing with the Achilles. I don’t want to completely dismiss next season, right? Because I still think with the roster that the Celtics have right now, they can be a postseason team.
Yes.
But I almost look at next season
for some of those guys like my nod, right? Like Shyman, right? Like some of those other guys that are, you know, coming off the bench. It’s like an audition.
Yeah, it is. It really for the following season when they’re actually going to get Tatum back and then contend again.
Yeah. Especially when you look at like we talked about Luca Garza last episode and Josh might not. both got two-year deals. Yeah. Which means like two-year deals, 5 million, 5.5 million. It’s like, all right, you’re getting a little bit of money, but these are proven deals. Like, we’re we’re giving you a little bit more than what you probably would get in the market,
but we’re giving you the opportunity to come in here, learn our system, show us that you’re going to play hard, show us that you’re going to develop well because you’re still younger players. Show us the things that we need to fit with JB and JT year two from now.
Celtics need size, too. Yeah, there’s a guy out there who fits that bill. 7 foot three.
Yeah.
A little shorter than his uh his dad, his late father. Bull. We’re talking about guy got some range from the outside.
Yeah. We had a commenter on our last episode. They say that the Celtics need
Bull. Um I’m out. I’m out on the BB Bowl experience. You know, I you know, I don’t want to be disrespectful and I feel like, you know, beggars can’t be choosers because the Celtics are kind of in that mode now where it’s like they they need a center, they need front court help, and they’re kind of begging people to come and show them that they can do certain things. The issue that I have with BB Bowl isn’t the the talent or um the energy or any of that other stuff because I feel like when he gets an opportunity to play somewhere where he feels wanted like when he was with Denver and they were trying to give him opportunities to show he was, you know, playing with a lot of energy. He just couldn’t figure things out defensively and that’s why, you know, they weren’t ready to, you know, take that next step and make him more of a rotational player or consistent rotational player. Um, but bull bowl it’s the it’s the rebounding for me. Like I don’t like seven3 guys who are averaging two two boards a game in 12 minutes. I it just doesn’t sound good to me. You’re that big, you got to go crash the glass. You have to be able to bring some, you know, some defensive physicality and put box dudes out, throw dudes into the stansion and say, “This is my board.” And he’s kind of a cool guy, too. He plays like that and he’s like, “I want to be the coolest guy in the room.” M
I don’t like that energy for a team that’s trying to win the championship two years from now.
Yeah, I agree with you. And again, you know, the Celtics do need to address size. They lost Luke Cornet in free agency. It looks like they’re going to lose Al Horford as well. Uh they just brought in Garza, but they need a different type of big man, right? Because Bo does not fit that bill. So,
uh no, we’re out on Ball. We’re out on Ball.
No disrespect to Bowl. You know, I think he’s a I think he is still a good young player that can do some good things in this league, but for what the Celtics need right now, which is some rebounding and some toughness and some energy and stuff like that. He just doesn’t fit the bill. I want to see him with some other teams. Uh it’s just not the Boston Celtics.
All right. Well, B, we’re out on BB Bowl, but are we in on a couple of newer faces to the Celtics roster? We will discuss that when Hold My Banner comes back. Welcome back to Hold My Banner. Adam and Aunt back with you. So, we talked about uh possibility of Damen Lillard signing with the Celtics. We talked about a couple of the new faces, Celtics roster uh and Josh Minat and also uh Luke Luca Garza who the Celtics signed as well. Yeah,
but those aren’t the big moves that the Celtics have made so far. Obviously, uh, the Celtics, uh, trading away Drew Holiday and Chris Porzingis, part of a salary dump, and then bringing a couple of other players, uh, to the roster. Uh, let’s start with Anthony Simons. We’ll talk about George Nang in a second. Local guy. Uh, but with Simons, he’s making $27 million this year.
Yeah, that’s a lot of money. It is,
right, for a guy who’s sort of onedimensional, just offensive, right? Um and um for a Celtics team that’s trying to get under that second apron. Again, not a capologist, but it is a big deal in terms of creating some opportunity later.
Yeah. And I did want to mention to the Josh Minard deal did take them back over the second apron. Just slightly just slightly.
Right. And so, yeah, so the offseason continues for the Celtics, and that’s why the question is, you know, Simons, Nyang, are they they they here to stay this season, or are they just going to flip them to shed some more salary? Uh, let’s start with Simons as as as a player. Yeah.
What are your impressions of him?
I mean, I think he’s electric. You know, when you talk about somebody who’s going to make me at least watch Celtics games going in the next year, this guy could be one of those guys, you know.
Yeah. When I say onedimensional, I don’t mean offensive, right? I just mean defense. He’s not two player. Yeah, he’s not a two-way player right now. That’s that’s the honest truth. But like we talked about my not’s athletic ability. You know, this kid Simons dunk NBA dunk champion. Um can fill it up. Has had multiple seasons where his, you know, most threes in the game was nine. You know what I’m saying? So, we’re talking about a guy who fits the modern NBA. either I get a dunk or layup or I shoot a three and he can get to those in a myriad of ways whether it’s through ball screens, catch and shoot with the step back in isolation. He finds ways to score and he his mentor is a guy that we just spent a lot of time talking about with Damen Lillard and also CJ McCollum. Those were the guys that mentored him and you know those dudes can really fill it up really quickly as well. He’s just a prodigy of all that. I mean, he’s not the level of those players, but I mean, if he if those guys are a 10 out of 10 in scoring, he’s a nine. You know what I’m saying? So, I would love to see him in Boston Celtics Green doing that for us. The defense does worry me a little bit, but I think he’s a guy that can fit into Brad Stevens and Joe Mazoula system with ease.
Yeah. So, I wonder with him, right, a if he’s going to be in the, you know, long when I say long-term plans, I just mean playing this season, right? you know, and then, you know, we’ll go from there, you know, because you could easily see the Celtics flipping him at some point this summer or if that doesn’t work out at the trade deadline, right? Not as much money is owed and there might be some teams that are more willing to bite on that. But in terms of the player, the prospect of having him on the roster is exciting for all the reasons you mentioned. And I sort of wonder, you know, now now is the time where we get to see Jaylen Brown shine and be the guy,
right?
Simons would be the Jaylen Brown.
Yeah.
To Jaylen Brown, right?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Right. Right. Right. He’d be the one. Right.
Exactly. Exactly. So, that would be fascinating to see.
Yeah.
To let JB cook, to let Simons be, you know, the Robin to him being Batman
and seeing what this team looks like.
But I I I also I also ask like, all right, do we want to be that good next year? Right? the Celtics want to be that good next year, right? So, you’re not good enough to win it all, but you’re not bad enough to sort of get a better draft pick and sort of reset and look to the future, you know, and get that draft pick. So, maybe it’s an asset and a trade when Tatum come, right? So, all in those things,
you know, outside of the financials, you have to consider as well. Yeah.
So, I I guess the bottom line for me is
I I like Simons’s the player. Mhm.
I don’t necessarily want to see him on the Celtics roster if it means it’s not going to help them
the season after.
Does that make sense?
It does make sense. Now, if we’re going to talk about trading them because that’s kind of what it seems like you’re alluding to a little bit. You know, I have some team or just a team that I want to
You always do. You always got something cooking, baby.
I love it. Austin A left the front office over here. He went to Utah with his dad. Mhm. You know, they got a guy over there that they’re talking about trading in Walk Walker Kesler that, you know, he’s, you know, got an expiring deal this year as well.
Y
making about 8 million. That could be something that could help the Celtics really easily. Yeah.
Get under the cap. Now, they’re asking for two first round picks. I don’t see the Celtics giving up two. I could see them giving up one. They have a myriad of uh second round picks. Five. Over the next two seasons, they could probably give up one. Simons and a maybe two of those second round picks over the next two years and maybe see if Utah wants to get a deal done there.
If not,
which I could accept, you know, because then the Boston Celtics would bring in Walker Kesler. We would extend him. The front court help comes, right?
You know what I mean? Get a guy who rebounds extremely well, blocks shots, and does a pick and roll game at a high level, right? That would be great for the Boston Celtics. Now, if it’s not him, and they’re like, “No, that’s not enough. We want more. What about John Collins? Also on the expiring deal
a little $1 million less, you know, so it doesn’t help you that much
with the cap situation, but it does help you.
Yeah.
And this I mean this guy I mean he was a 2010 guy for Utah last year.
He was
40% from the three-point line. I mean athleticism, he’s going to block shots. He plays hard. He played hard when he was in Atlanta. He’s played hard for Utah. He’s only gotten better as a shooter. This guy could be a guy that helps them kind of fill that KP position, you know, that stretch big, that also blocks shots and rebounds. He could fill that position and that role for them. What do you think about that? See, that’s why I like talking things out with you because I’m in I’m in my head thinking like it’s all about two years from now when Tatum comes back and then they’ll figure it out then,
right? But with that said, and what you bring up is a great point. It’s like, well, if you can
address a need now that can help you moving forward because I look at Simons and I don’t know how he’s going to fit when Tatum comes back. Right. Right. And that’s the issue. Is he a guy that can come off the bench? Do you want to pay that much money to a guy coming off the bench? Because he’s not going to start when Tatum comes back.
But a guy like John Collins
would fit. He fits a need now and in the future. So, I like where your head’s at. And that’s where I was going with it, too. If you’re not going to do just a straight up salary dump, get somebody who can help you now. Get address the front court because that’s the need for the Celtics, not only now, but moving forward when Tatum does eventually return.
And then with for Utah, you know, they made the trade to get Colin Saxon out of there, you know, and brought in Nerkage. Um, they made the trade, you know, they ended up waving um Jordan Clarkson. So, they lost their kind of like electric scorer, you know, guy that in their offense. Now, they might just be saying, “Hey, we don’t need those guys.” Right? But they also could be in the market of getting another old a little bit older guy to fit in with all of their young guards that they have on their roster who can automatically score and they’d say, “Hey, we have all these other bigs that can take care of the defense.”
Here’s the other thing, too, Danny A. I don’t know if you realize this, but he has a history of making deals with friends. You’re right.
He had a friend by the name of Kevin Kale in Minnesota all the way back in the day. Yeah.
Made a deal with him. Loves Brad Stevens.
Yeah. Yeah. I’m not talking. All right. Now, let’s talk about this Niag Dude cuz
I didn’t leave much time for this because I’m like, “Oh, man.
I didn’t I, you know, I Here’s my thing, right? So, we haven’t got we haven’t had the opportunity to talk about it, but like, you know, Boston fans are with me, you know, like they don’t forget. That’s the thing about Boston Celtics fans. They do not forget,
right? And you talk about game game seven against Sixers,
right? may forgive, but they’re not going to forget. And him grabbing Jaylen Brown’s knee, which
hey, I mean, a couple years later, Jaylen Brown’s having some knee issues. Who knows if something may might have started there. You know what I’m saying?
Well, it’s the same thing, too. And not to do the crossport comparison, but I do it from time to time. It’s the same thing with Dustin Pedroya and Manny Machado back in the day when the slide right in Bedroya’s knee. He was never the same after that. Not to say that Jaylen Brown had that significant of a knee injury, but it’s there’s something there.
There could be something there, you know. So,
my question is, you know, with that and then J and then JT also giving him the I’m not going to say it, but he did the celebration against him last year. Yeah. Get out of here with Atlanta, you know, after he dropped him. There’s some animosity there between these two stars and this now role player. So, you know, I have to question if he’s going to be on this roster, whether he helps the chemistry of this team, whether he’s going to help them actually win a championship in a couple of years, what is it even worth having him on the roster as a roster spot even though it’s only 8 million for this season?
Yeah, he can’t play D can shoot. Um, you know, he’s an asset for a team contending because he does offer, you know, some of that stuff, but
um and I also look at Well, he’s a local guy, too. So, shout out Lawrence, right? But, um, you know, you you look at where the Celtics are right now.
Obviously, not for this season, but beyond. That’s that’s the the biggest question that that you have. And and yeah, I don’t I don’t see it working either. I see it more of I want as much flexibility as possible. If it’s not a guy like John Collins coming to Boston,
as much flexibility as possible for them to build two years from now.
Yeah. All right. So, I was cooking again with this one. I got to trade them out of here. You know what I mean? Yeah, I was cooking a little bit with this one.
Um, and I just want to ask you who says no. Okay, so roll with me.
Okay, I got you. Nang
and Hower,
who we know has been, you know, inconsistent in his time here, right?
For Cole Anthony,
Mhm.
from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jay Huff, who’s a lot like a Luke Luke Cornet, you know what I mean? Can fill a role exactly like how a Luke Cornette could feel.
And Scotty Pippen Jr., who had a fantastic year. Yeah. with the Memphis Grizzlies last year.
Yeah, man. I like that. I like that. Um I like I like the fact that you bring Scotty Pippen Jr. in here, right? Because
it’s sounds silly, but like it’s a name that people recognize. It’s something that fans, right? You’re going to want a reason if you’re a Celtics fan, you’re going to want a reason to watch this team this year, right? And you know the situation with Tatum and you know you’re not. But it’s like, oh, Scotty Pippen, I know that name, right? And I mean, seriously, like as as dumb as that sounds, and not to take away from from the player,
the player, right? But you know how that works.
Yeah. And it definitely works. I mean, the thing is, I see this as a a good deal for both teams, right? One, the Celtics are clearly taking flyers on younger players. You know, these are guys who are all under 27. I think Jay Huff’s the oldest guy there at 27. The other two guys are under the age of 25, you know, um, and Cole Anthony and Scotty Pippen Jr. Um, but they’re taking flyers on guys to see if they can, you know, increase their role and continue to develop as Boston Celtics and buy into the system, right? Yeah.
Scotty Pippen Jr. offense, defense, three and D guard, he can automatically come in and help fill in that guard depth that the Celtics need right now. Right. When you’re looking at a Cole Anthony, he’s had some good
He’s a legacy, too, isn’t he?
Right. Yeah. His dad, Greg, is a great NBA player and everything like that, but he’s had some great moments with the Magic. He plays hard. Some of the things about shooting are some of the question marks about him, but he’s a guy who plays hard, brings energy, a lot of things that we’ve been talking about that the Boston Celtics are looking for. And then when you’re the Memphis Grizzlies, when they’re losing guys like Luke Canard to, you know, free agency and everything like that, they’re looking for shooters. They’re looking for shooters. So if you can get a Sam Hower who can come in and automatically shooters, they tied up some of their shooters and like Cam Spencer and stuff like that because they obviously want to keep those guys in house, uh he can immediately come in and fit a role for them, especially playing with J and you know, Triple J who just got the extension as well. Um they’re going to need guys who can space the floor. Losing to Desmond Bane as well. Um and former Celtics draft pick by the way
and Nang fits kind of their identity too. somebody who can come in and shoot and just be energy and kind of be a pest like how Dylan Brooks was for them a couple of years ago, you know? So, I could see that being something that they might be interested in. I’m not sure, right? I’m not sitting in those chairs, but
hey, why not?
Former Houston Rocket Dylan Brooks, right?
Yeah. Big trade went down in the NBA. Uh, and it makes you wonder a little bit about the Western Conference. Uh, speaking of, uh, another Western Conference team made a move. Uh, and it’s generating a lot of conversation, a lot of debate. Uh, yeah. Out in LA, LeBron James Lakers. They got a new piece. We’ll talk about that coming up next. [Music] Here. Here’s my question to you, and I I already know you’re both going to tell me I’m nuts, and I am, but
I’m looking at DeAndre Aiden. I’m sorry. No.
Why? Why? Here’s my thing. Okay, you got bought out. you’re already making all the money. If this guy isn’t a loser, which he is, he he could be. He could be. But if there’s an inkling that he’s not,
can I not make the argument, hey, if I’m DeAndre Aiden, let me humble myself a little bit. I’m getting paid from this buyout. Let me go somewhere where I can compete and possibly win. Team up with a Jaylen Brown, team up with a Derek White. I know Tatum’s not there, but if I sign a two-year deal, call me nuts here, for less money, then I could be there on the back end when Tatum comes back and maybe I win. And people like me and the three amigos, stop calling me a loser. No.
Look, look, let me tell you. I’ve been playing against this kid since he was in eighth grade. I know exactly who DeAndre Aen is. He’s played with a lot of my good friends over at Arizona. He’s I’ve played against him in high school. I played against him in middle school. I’ve seen this kid at every single step of the way.
This dude does not know how to bring that energy that you’re talking about. He didn’t know how to do it in middle school. He didn’t do it in high school. He didn’t do it in college. He didn’t do it in Portland. He didn’t do it in Phoenix. I mean, where how many more chances does somebody get to show you that this is who they are?
But what’s the disconnect or just that dog? He doesn’t have
skipping workouts, skipping rehab, being late to team meetings in Portland. And yeah, it’s a bad situation in Portland, but also that was a team on the cusp of getting into the postseason and he was winning in Phoenix and still did not care. Oh, poor Travis, man. You guys went on the attack. Just bees on honey. All right, but the Celtics dream is dead for Travis. Sad to say, DeAndre Aton has agreed to sign with the Lakers
according to Shams. He’s got another one. Uh, so he’s going to earn $34 million next year. Yeah,
that dog. Oh, man. All right. All right. So, you played against him, which is great perspective, by the way.
Appreciate it. Um, I do want to ask you though,
Yes. All right.
DeAndre Aton in Los Angeles. Yeah.
LeBron James.
Mhm.
All right. This is the first time that he’s played with the King.
Yeah.
Right. He’s played with Kevin Durant. I understand that. But it’s LeBron James. That’s a That’s different.
Yeah. Can LeBron get this guy? LeBron the king. All right. Can he get this guy to buy in, Adam? Not even the king can do it, Adam. Oh, he is a lost cause. LeBron’s going to send DeAndre Aiden into early retirement and DeAndre Aiden’s going to do the same to LeBron. That’s exactly what’s going to happen here. No, man. And it’s not any disrespect to LeBron and his abilities. The thing about it is is the pressure of being in Los Angeles as a whole with the media. You think what people were doing to him in Phoenix was bad. What they’re going to he got to be in Portland and never hear about media or anything like that. The things that Laker Nation is going to do to him when he stands there and looks at a rebound one time, just the first time they are going to run him and his family out of that building. And then you think playing with LeBron is going to help the trying to win a championship. I mean, dude, he had Kevin Durant, he he had Chris Paul, he had Devin Booker,
and he didn’t win a championship in Phoenix. And people were upset at him at the time and they shipped him all the way off to Portland because of it.
All right, let me ask you a question. Why do the Lakers make this move then?
Because they need a center. They’re
So LeBron But LeBron is involved.
Yeah. I mean, he’s claiming that he’s not. He’s claiming that he’s pulling away. That’s what he’s claiming.
Do you believe that? No, I never believe anything that he said.
So, so LeBron is involved. Okay. LeBron buys into this. Yes. Right. We We assume that’s the case. Why would he buy in?
20 and 10. 20 and I mean 19.
Is it Is it the fact that LeBron thinks that? Because like he’s got I mean, he’s like I said, he’s the king, right? He thinks he can he can get him to buy in. It has to be better than freaking Jackson Hayes. Anything’s better than Jackson Hayes. You know what I’m saying? Anything’s better than nothing. I’m just being honest. So, you know, here’s the thing. I’ve always said this about Jeannie Bus and Rob Pelinka. I’m sure they’re great people. I’m, you know, I’m sure they’re they’re really good at, you know, making people like them. I know that for sure.
But as far as them making teams, it’s not about collecting talent. That those days are over with. You have to get a team. And if you’re gonna tell me that we’re gonna have issues with effort with Luca, question marks about his effort, question marks about LeBron’s effort on defense throughout the his Laker tenure and the fact that he’s 40 now, right? Right. So like he can’t put the same effort into that end of the floor as he does, right? Like it just can’t happen. And now you’re a third guy. We’re going to have questions about effort too. You know what I’m saying? And there’s also question marks about whether they’re going to be able to get Austin Reeves to, you know, come back and all this other stuff. There’s a lot of questions about who this Laker team is. I’m not in on the fact that there’s all these questions surrounding guys when you most of them haven’t won a championship there. When LeBron won a championship in 2020, the majority of this roster was not part of the team.
Right.
So,
all right. Well, with that said, does this move the needle at all? Right. You say it could be 2010, right?
Right.
Has it moved the needle at all? I I look at I mean I look at the West and I don’t see them, you know, they they they they finished in the third seed last year, right? We forget about that. We forget about that.
I mean, they’re not going to leaprog Oklahoma City.
Yeah.
I mean, you know what I mean?
It’s one of those things where it’s going to be it’s going to be a JJ Reic masterass if they’re a top three seed again in the West. It’s just going to have to be. I mean, we didn’t get to really to go into it too much in depth, but like what the Denver Nuggets have done this off season, you know what I mean? buying into some of those guys, making that trade for um Cam Johnson and all of that stuff. They went out and made some moves to go and win a championship. The Thunder are still going to be the Thunder.
Houston got with KD with Dorian Finny Smith, a guy who was a a huge part of what the Lakers did last season. You know what I’m saying? There’s a lot of question marks about the guys and the teams around them. I don’t see them, you know, being the team that better.
They’re dropping. It’s still and it’s still rising. You know what I mean? You would have to think with if the Warriors were to get Al Horford, you would think that their team is going to be a little bit better than they were in the past year. You know what I’m saying?
Yeah. Dallas obviously, right?
Dallas with, you know, hopefully healthy. But yeah, Cooper Flag coming in getting um D’Angelo Russell. And that’s the thing, too. We’re talking about guys
Minnesota,
right? We’re talking about guys who play for the Lakers, though. When I bring up a Dorian Fit Smith, when I bring up Ado, when they go and play against those those Laker teams four times this year, they’re going to be having a those days circled, you know. So, I’m not saying that DFS is going to go for 30, but you know, at the same time, he might play a really great game every time against the the Los Angeles Lakers,
man.
And then Memphis, I like what they did, too. We just talked about them like they’re having a pretty good offseason as well. Lakers with all those things we just talked about, right? I mean, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. Yeah.
Right. And you’re a LeBron injury away. Yeah.
At 40 years old from,
you know,
right?
Having an out of shape Luca. Oh, man. I don’t want to hate on Luca, but
No,
but that’s the reality. Like, you’re you’re you’re spot on, man. Like, you you got who’s who he is,
right?
Luca, who’s who he is, and then LeBron who he is as a he’s 40. He’s 40. He’s a man. He’s 40. He’s 40. Yeah, that’s bad. Well, all right. With all that said, would Aton have been better off signing with the Celtics?
I mean, no. I I mean, no.
I mean, I got you got to give my love to my guy Travis a little bit, you know, like I mean, he brought it up.
Yeah. No, I mean, no. I I think the thing about it is like I think people like us are, you know, we’re not in every day with a guy like DeAndre Aiden and like his GM came out and gave him a gleaming review saying that he was great to all the young guys, he was a great leader, all this other stuff. And you have to take that into account. Maybe he did change in Portland. Maybe something did start to click for him there at the end. You know what I mean? And most of us wouldn’t know because nobody’s watching Portland Trailer Blazer basketball and you can blame that on their head coach John Chanty Phillips because they’re not a very good team. But, you know, um I him being here in Boston, it I just think he would bring like there’s a lot of young guys on this team right now. And if you’re going to have him be around another young group, you know, without a lot of championship pedigree guys still, you know, walking around, you know, assuming that Jaylen Brown’s probably going to rest up a little bit because they are going to try to tank to get a AJ Deansa, you know what I’m saying? And do some things like that.
A friend of the program,
right? Um, then you know, I just think him in Boston wouldn’t be a great fit. And honestly, the energy thing here in Boston, in LA, it’s one thing.
Oh my god, he’d get crushed here.
Here in Boston, you can speak to that.
Oh, he would get absolutely skewered here.
The I wouldn’t even say the first time he looked at a rebound. I would say the first time he thought about looking at a rebound here in Boston.
That doesn’t work. Yeah.
You know, LA’s one thing, right? Yeah. huge media presence scrutiny,
but it’s a different kind of scrutiny here because Boston ain’t LA in terms of other things to do. Right. Right.
There’s a lot of other things to do in LA, a lot of other things to do in Miami, other spots.
Boston, beautiful city, plenty to do, but not as much. No. And not as a lot of focus on other stuff.
Yeah.
Out there. And he would get all that focus, man. He’d get all that smoke. Anyway, you know, we talk about LeBron James, man, one of the last true superstars,
you know, in the NBA, which leads to the question, you know, is the the superstar era over in the NBA? We’re going to discuss that next. Welcome back to Hold My Banner. Oh my goodness, we need to have dynasties back. Look at this. 30 years, eight champions. The last 12 years, we’ve had nine different champions. Look at David Stern. Dynasties, Adam Silver parody. It’s like this is before your time, but tastes great, less filling,
you know, with a certain beer
back in the day. It was a whole commercial campaign.
Yeah. Anyway.
Okay.
Educated me though.
Yes. Uh all right. So, you know, obviously the dynasties back in the day, you know, like in the 80s, the Celtics Lakers and the Bulls, obviously, and then even the Spurs, you call them a dynasty in the 2000s, right?
Yeah. Lakers.
Lakers. Um, Warriors.
Yeah, the Warriors.
Um, but you know, last nine years, uh, and last 12 years, nine different champions. There’s a lot of par Oklahoma City Thunder just won their first,
right? Um, you know, Celtics were one of the prior Dynasties, won last year.
Yeah.
Uh, what what’s your take, man? You you miss the Dynasty era or you like the parody?
You know, growing up in Los Angeles, being out here in Boston, I just I kind of like the Dynasties. I can’t lie. You know, it just I feel like going in when you know like, hey, all right, this team cleared out a runway and they’ve made themselves the best team in the league and you know they’re going to be dominance. when they get knocked off, when that Giant gets knocked off, it feels a little, you know, a little like more shocking. Yeah. You know, like with the Celtics falling off this year, I wasn’t that shocked because over the last couple years, we’ve had a different champion every single year. So, it almost felt inevitable at some point. You know what I’m saying? Um, but you know, if somebody were to come in and knock off the Boston Celtics back in the day, if somebody were to come off come in and even though they didn’t do it, knock off a Michael Jordan, you know, that would have been like a oh my god. even when he came back, you know what I mean, for that first half of season and everything like that, everyone expected him, right, to win and he didn’t. And that was kind of shocking, you know what I mean? So, I kind of missed those days where there was David and Goliath and sometimes Goliath just won and took over and sometimes David just steamrolled and did what David was supposed to do.
Yeah. I think fans who, you know, support those teams that we’re talking about that were in the Dynasties obviously are all for Dynasties because they know their team is going to be in it every single year. If you’re a fan outside of those markets, not so much. But I think that the casual fan who doesn’t necessarily have a strong allegiance one way or the other. They love the Dynasties, right? Right. Because they love those teams. I think people, you know, the Patriots back in the day, a lot of fans, a lot of people hated the Patriots, but then again, like they were like a dynasty,
right? They were mustwatch TV.
Yeah.
Each and every time they were on. Um,
and the thing about that I want to bring up real quick is just like that you said about the Patriots, like they were terrible for a long time. I feel like everyone gets their chance.
Everyone eventually
will get their chance. You know,
you do it right.
Yeah. Back when the Celtics dynasty first started, like there was like six teams in the league to start. So like it was, you know what I mean? Like it it wasn’t that much opportunity. But now like when you’re looking at it, like yeah, the Bulls had their dynasty. They won six and eight years and then they’ve been kind of
right
Derek Rose, but they’ve been kind of but they’ve been kind of trash. You know what I’m saying? And like the Lakers had their dynasty and then they had the periods where they went through a long drought and the Warriors were trash for a long time and now they’ve had a dynasty. I think if we didn’t have this new CBA, we would be looking at the Thunder and saying like, “Wow, look at this, you know, run that they could go on.” Now they probably won’t. Um, you know, but you know, I think that’s where the league was and everybody will get their opportunity to be at the mountaintop eventually.
Yeah. And that’s the issue is the CBA. I mean, that’s the reason we’re seeing what we’re seeing, right? Couple years ago, new CBA, you have, you know, again, like
you have to be a mathematician to try and figure some of this stuff out when it comes to the first apron, second apron, the tax involved and and the penalties assessed and why teams do what they do. And then you factor in with the Celtics, you got new ownership coming in, right? So yeah, so there are all these different factors and you know it it it does stink that a team like you know let’s use the recent champion Oklahoma City as an example right
they’re not going to be able to pay their superstars in a couple years right and so you’re punishing them
for you know drafting extremely well making the right moves but because they’re going to get priced out like
you know and that stinks right you shouldn’t they shouldn’t be punished for doing a good job right? You know what I mean?
They like the Warriors did. I mean, those guys are going to have to take team friendly deals in order to stay. I mean, next year they’re going to have to make a decision.
Do they want to extend Chad? Do they want to extend Jaylen Williams? And I’m sure they will, but that’ll come at a cost. Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hardenstein, Lou Dort, guys who are really vital to their championship pedigree are going to they’re going to have to make real decisions like, “Hey, do we want to keep these guys around?” Especially in a small market like a OKC. This is really going to hurt them, especially with SGA signing that mega deal getting at least 70 million a year over the next, you know, four or five years of his career. That’s going to, you know, really hinder their ability to keep guys on their side.
We’ve spent more time talking about the second apron than we have the actual roster when it comes to the Celtics. And the Celtics were going to shed money anyway, right? regardless of what they did this past season, right? Regardless of the Tatum injury, they were going to be shedding salary because of the penalties that are assessed with all of these
uh these rules that are in place. So, that kind of stinks. But,
uh you know, speaking of the Celtics, since we have a couple of minutes, you know, we never really got to it, right? In terms of the roster that’s intact right now,
uh in terms of you know, the the moves they’ve made and and just today.
Yeah.
Today, if the season started tomorrow,
Yes.
what does the Celtics team look like? win total. Yeah, Celtics United wanted to know about this as well, you know, with a picture of some of their new guys on the team. Um, yeah, I think as you look at this Celtics team today, I person, you said they’re a playoff team. I think they’re a playoff team, too. I think they’re a seven or eight seed. Um, maybe as high as a six. I I think the East has made the improvements and it’s not a knock on like it’s a little bit of a knock on who the Celtics are, and we got to figure out who their identity is. When you lose a $50 million player, it’s going to be hard to be at the top of a conference. You know what I’m saying? But at the end of the day, when you’re looking at the magic and the improvements that they’ve made, the Hawks that improvements that they made and some of these other teams around the league that stayed past like the Cavaliers and the Knicks and all this other stuff, it’s going to be pretty difficult for the Celtics to get past a five seed,
right? And I think you’re spot on. I look at this team and and I’m I’m wondering what Jaylen Brown is going to be next year.
Yeah.
You know, I want to see them. I’m really intrigued by that. I think that they can be like the seven, eight, six that you’re talking about. Um, this is also an opportunity for Derek White to get some more run, for Payton Pritchard to be more than just a sixth man and to show what he can do. So, it’s it’s an opportunity for all these guys. It’s not I wouldn’t call it exciting because you’re without Jason Tatum. It was a devastating injury, but anyway. Hey, uh, happy 4th of July to you, my friend.
Happy 4th of July. I appreciate it.
Have fun on the water.
I will,
Captain Campbell. All right, man. Dante Campbell, Adam Peller, and thanks for joining us on Hold My Banner. Have a happy and safe 4th of July. See you. [Music]

The Celtics are reportedly interested in Damian Lillard, but would he actually fit next to Tatum and Brown? Is bringing him off the bench with Payton Pritchard starting a wild idea or exactly what this team needs? The guys also react to Boston signing Josh Minott and what it means for the rotation, plus a fan suggests Bol Bol as the answer to the Celtics frontcourt depth. Later, the question turns to Georges Niang and Anfernee Simons. Will either be on the roster when the season starts, or are trades coming? Then it’s time to look out west. Deandre Ayton is joining LeBron and Luka in Los Angeles. Is that enough to make the Lakers a real threat in the West? The episode wraps with a big-picture debate: is the NBA dynasty era officially over, or are we just in a brief moment of parity?

All that and more on this episode of Hold My Banner, hosted by Adam Pellerin and Ountae Campbell.

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00:00 Damian Lillard & Other Celtics Offseason Moves
19:24 Will Georges Niang & Anfernee Simons be on the Celtics roster?
32:56 Will Deandre Ayton Really Make A Difference With The Lakers?
43:28 Is the NBA Superteam Era/ Dynasty Era Officially Over?