Given Lillard’s deal with the Trail Blazers, it’s easy to see why the Celtics struggled to place a competitive offer. Boston, after all, is currently trying to duck under the second luxury tax apron. Brad Stevens has already traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to help the franchise reach its goal. Nevertheless, it would appear the Celtics did make an offer to Lillard during his limited time as a free agent.

“He was going to spend the year rehabbing his Achilles tear in the Portland area anyways,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said. “So returning to the Blazers franchise, even though he requested a trade just two years ago, was something he deeply cared about. And Boston, Minnesota, dozens of other teams had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks.”

Lillard’s fit in Boston would have been questionable at best. He needs the ball in his hands to be an effective member of the rotation. Furthermore, there’s no telling what type of player he will be when he returns from his Achilles injury at nearly age-36. Still, the Celtics likely viewed Lillard as a low-cost, high-reward pickup.