Lakers News: Damian Lillard Refuses to be Traded to Historic LA Rival

One less superteam for the Lakers to worry about!

When the 2023 Conference Finals rolled around, the NBA world as a whole came to the realization that we could potentially see two of the most cherished franchises in history face off against each other for the first time since 2010 in the Finals.

The two franchises in question were, of course, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics and the last time we had come this close to seeing their 13th battle in the Finals was back in 2020. However, the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat are currently facing off against each other for the championship both parties failed to hold up their ends.

LA is going to have a long summer ahead of them as they undoubtedly have to do everything they can to retain Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura while also ensuring LeBron James will stick around. On top of that, their point guard position is no longer set as taken anymore with D'Angelo Russell's future with the squad being uncertain.

A Playoff run full of heart & hustle@BeyondMeat x #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/mrU5SHVMjh

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 8, 2023

Boston's Issues Won't Be Easy To Solve Either

The Celtics are going to have to make some big decisions as well as they took a step backwards in the 2023 postseason by fizzling out against an eighth-seeded Heat squad. Their superstar wing duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum may finally be coming to an end and maybe Boston's front office will look to make a move for a different point guard.

Marcus Smart remains one of the best perimeter defenders in the league but seeing all the turnovers that occurred in Boston's final games of the year along with the pressure that is put on Tatum, a more natural/scoring point guard will suit their roster better.

After news broke that the Phoenix Suns are considering waving Chris Paul, the Celtics were listed as a heavy favorite to welcome him in next. This just may be their best bet when its all said and done as one of the most prolific shooters and floor generals of the past decade, Damian Lillard, revealed that he has never found Boston as an attractive destination for him to play.

Chris Haynes was the first to share this information.

Chris Haynes on Damian Lillard joining the Celtics 👀

CH: “He’s not doing Boston. He’s not. I don’t see that.”

DP: “You can confidently report that Dame doesn’t want to go to Boston?”

CH: “I think that’s pretty safe to say.”

(via @dpshow, h/t @dru_star)pic.twitter.com/9MB6HLar2k

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 8, 2023

Lillard would then hop on Instagram live not too long after the reports surfaced to confirm what Haynes had shared to the internet. The seven-time All-Star expanded on the rumors and said that even though he did not tell Haynes this directly, he trusts him enough to know that he speaks only truth on his name due to their tight-knit friendship.

Damian Lillard on @ChrisBHaynes' Report That Dame won't go to Boston:

"I just saw something about Boston [where he said] Dame ain't doing Boston. That's not a conversation where I said I'm going to do something, but Boston is not one of the things I'm going to do."

"That's… pic.twitter.com/7ctqK1RZG9

— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) June 9, 2023

It really does feel like a Lillard trade is finally going to happen sooner rather than later. He has been talking more about potential moves more over the past few weeks than he ever has and even though he's shut down the Lakers numerous times, I think he'll be out of Portland very soon and it's great to see LA's biggest rival likely won't land him.