Why the Boston Celtics should avoid adding Damian Lillard
Lillard is an All-Star, and he's also one of the best offensive guards in the NBA. However, his style of play could be counterproductive for how Boston likes to approach things on the court. Lillard needs to dominate the ball to be at his best; he also needs a high-volume shot diet, averaging over 17 per game this past season. Furthermore, his defense leaves a lot to be desired, which could irk Joe Mazzulla, who likes his stars to be two-way talents.
It's for those reasons that a recent episode of "WEEI Afternoons" was dedicated to the subject of why the Celtics should resist the temptation to acquire Lillard on the free agency market. The hosts dove into a range of issues that could occur by adding the veteran ballhandler, including the fact that ball-dominant guards have seldom worked when playing next to Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
You can watch the full discussion episode by clicking on the embedded video above.
Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
Website: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf
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USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
OKC Thunder Mailbag: How should Chris Paul be honored for contributions?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacation for the next couple of months before training camp starts. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Chris Paul. The 40-year-old signed with the LA Clippers this offseason, signaling he's going for a poetic end to his Hall of Fame career. While his impending retirement isn't officially known yet, at least one fan believes the Thunder should honor Paul for his contributions when that day comes. Not just for his 2019-20 season, but for his OKC Hornets years. He spent his first two seasons from 2005-07 there as the then-Hornets temporarily relocated due to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It was a test run to see if small-market OKC can support an NBA franchise. While Paul hasn't done enough to warrant his No. 3 jersey to get retired, maybe there's a nice middle ground. Even though he only spent one season on the Thunder, his contributions go beyond that. He helped mentor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He gave OKC fans one of its most fun seasons ever, considering expectations. It was a much-needed bounce-back campaign by Paul, where he earned All-NBA honors. When Paul visits the Thunder on the road, he usually receives applause. Being part of the Thunder Legacy Network is the best answer. Every year, the Thunder invite over alumni players to be celebrated by fans for their time in OKC. They could also throw in his time on the Hornets, too. It'd be worth a shoutout. But once Paul hangs up his sneakers, he can be the headliner for a Thunder Legacy Network weekend in a future season. It's a program the Thunder have built up in recent years. The future Hall-of-Famer is always fond of his short time in OKC and left on good terms, which is impressive considering the immediate aftermath of being traded for franchise legend Russell Westbrook.
New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
Chris Paul returns to familiar place with Clippers but in different role: ‘I'm still in it'
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As he was introduced by broadcaster Brian Sieman, Paul was overcome with emotion. Chris Paul breaking down after @BSieman introduces him to the fans at Intuit Dome, something CP3 was not expecting — Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 28, 2025 'If you watch me, I play with a different type of chip on my shoulder and a passion,' Paul told the fans. 'But there's an emptiness that I was missing. And so I'm excited to really be back here and get a chance to play for the Clippers.' Paul's return to the Clippers is a full-circle moment for a franchise that never won 60 percent of its games in a season before his arrival — and now has the league's longest active streak of consecutive winning seasons, a run that began with his first in 2011-12. While Paul doesn't take credit for the Clippers becoming more of a destination franchise, he acknowledges that it is meaningful being on a team with Kawhi Leonard and former Rockets teammate James Harden, among other accomplished players. 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Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chris Paul is back with the Clippers and it means so much to him
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