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Hours After $54,000,000 Worth NBA Star Wished to Serve as Team’s “Backbone”, Jayson Tatum’s Celtics Betray Him to Rectify Damian Lillard Snub

Published 10/01/2023, 10:06 PM EDT

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In the past couple of seasons, the Boston Celtics have particularly caught the attention of the fans with their achievements. To maintain the dominance, $54,000,000 worth of their star offered to act as the squad’s “backbone” for the next season. Jayson Tatum‘s franchise, though, went in the opposite direction as they betrayed him to make up for the snub from Damian Lillard.

This move came as the process of rectification after their efforts for Dame went in vain. The deception thus arrived only a few hours after the NBA star’s comments, leaving everyone shocked.

Who did the Celtics trade to make up for the snub from Damian Lillard?

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When the news of Lillard wanting to move to the East first broke out, Boston displayed interest in landing him. Their endeavors failed to make the breakthrough happen as the 33-year-old joined their direct rivals, Milwaukee Bucks. To rectify this, the organization decided to acquire his replacement from the Portland Trail Blazers.

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The Celtics traded for Jrue Holiday as they did not hesitate to give up Robert Williams to sign the guard. This decision to trade away their $54 million worth of center felt like a betrayal towards the player, as he had big plans for the team. Hours before the announcement, Robert had candidly shared his ambitions for Boston.

In the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston, the 25-year-old talked about “just being that backbone” for the squad next season. He wished to “do everything for the team,” expressing his willingness to “step up” for his teammates. There were certain improvements Williams wanted to make to his personality, too.

“Be more vocal, I think,” the 6’9 star stated, pointing out those areas for self-development. He then added, “Just looking for me to take on more of a leader role this year,” expressing his dedication. So, the surprising trade, in a way, hampered his plans for Boston as another team can now make the most out of it.

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What can the Blazers expect from Robert Williams?

Acting as a backup player for the Celtics till now, Robert’s overall display has been impressive. Both on and off-court personality, he has been crucial for The Green. Thus, his role may remain the same in Portland.

Operating as a reserve center for his side, he made it to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team one year back. In only 15 starts from 17 appearances, he averaged 7.7-1-6.2 in 2021/22 season. Thus, the rising talent possesses great potential but requires a better belief system around him.

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The Blazers’ fans would be hoping for Williams to find it in their city. As supporters look forward to seeing their newly assembled starting five, Robert has a shout-out to make into it soon.

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Written by:

Sourav Bose

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Sourav is a detail-oriented NBA content writer at EssentiallySports. His passion for the game of basketball was ignited by none other than the captivating duo of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. As he delved into the illustrious history of the NBA, his fascination grew exponentially.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe