NBA Rumors: 3 Marquee Teams Looking to Sign Lillard

Now that the shock of the Milwaukee Bucks waiving Damian Lillard has dissipated, it's time to look into where the veteran superstar will take his talents as a freshly minted free agent. And according to a report in The Athletic, there are three marquee teams that want to get a deal done with Lillard "sooner rather than later."

The Warriors, Celtics and Lakers are among the teams that have interest in doing a deal with Damian Lillard sooner rather than later, sources tell @eric_nehm, @sam_amick and @joevardon.

Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks’… pic.twitter.com/YuonUE0mEF
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 2, 2025

Per Sam Amick, Eric Nehm and Joe Vardon, the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and LA Lakers are the teams with great interest in getting a deal done with Dame, despite the fact that he will miss all of next season recovering from a torn Achilles.

"Not surprisingly, league sources say Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks’ ending broke," they wrote. "The question is whether he wants to sign with a team now and rehabilitate while under their care or wait until next summer to reassess the situation."

3 teams have great interest in signing Damian Lillard

As for the three teams that have "great interest" in Lillard?

The Celtics already have a superstar sitting out next season with a torn Achilles, in Jayson Tatum. So why not put all their chips in the 2026-27 basket?

The Warriors are all-in to win a title while Steph Curry & Jimmy Butler's windows are still open, so another superstar, even a year from now, fits the bill.

And the Lakers? Well, they're the Lakers, and any superstar who's available will wind up on their radar.

Reportedly, Lillard is "elated" by the Bucks' decision to waive him, and he'll relish in this decision about which contender to head to next.