The list is long - NBA superstars that have spurned Boston. Hell, even Jayson Tatum didn't want to be drafted by the Celtics. He preferred tha Phoenix Suns and the Arizona sunshine.
Kevin Durant wanted no part of Boston. Ditto for Anthony Davis. Now it's Damian Lillard expressing no desire to travel to Beantown. And perhaps soon-to-be-bought-out Chris Paul may follow suit in discarding Boston as a destination.
NBA superstars seem to want the sunshine, warmth, beaches and "Party City" environments. They flock to the Lakers and Clippers in California, and Miami seems to draw a few. I personally think that the elite players don't shun the Celtics for any real-or-perceived flaw in the team's structure. I honestly think these superstars visualize a solid five months of cold weather - driving in snow - and not having the party atmosphere they can find in Miami or California.
We can't finish this piece without mentioning the bright lights and endorsement potential of being in Los Angeles. Shaquille O'Neal only came to the Celtics at the end of his career - after having great success with the Lakers and finding additional wealth and fame from movies, endless TV commercials and endorsements. Boston can't offer that.
The NBA is now a players League, and the elite players usually end up where they want to go - and that ain't Boston. So Brad Stevens had better try to maintain the success he has seen thus far by smart drafting, player development - and the acquisition of Tier-2-or-3 players such as Al; Horford, Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White to surround the guy that didn't want to be here in the first place - superstar Jayson Tatum.
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