The biggest trade saga of the offseason finally comes to an end as seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard heads to Milwaukee in a reported three-way trade deal involving the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns.
The Olympic gold medallist, who finally requested a trade away from Portland on the second day of free agency after his attempt to get the Trail Blazers to improve their roster fell on deaf ears, will join Greek-Nigerian star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Bucks as part of a deal that sees Jrue Holiday and Suns’ DeAndre Ayton go the other way.
The reported agreement also sees Toumani Camara, who was selected by the Suns with the 52nd pick in the 2023 Draft, as well as the Bucks’ 2029 unprotected first-round pick and unprotected swap rights in 2028 and 2030 all go to the Trail Blazers. The Suns, on the other hand, will receive Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkić as well as Nassir Little and Keon Johnson via Portland, along with American guard Grayson Allen via Milwaukee.
Lillard goes Milwaukee as part of a 3-team deal with Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected MIL 1st, and unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers. Phoenix lands Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson. https://t.co/Ge0H91AiIA
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 27, 2023
Lillard signed a two-year max contract extension with the Trail Blazers in the summer of 2022, and he is owed about $216.2 million over the next four seasons, including $63.2 million in the 2026–27 campaign.
He averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season after overcoming the niggling injuries that hampered him in the two previous seasons, which saw him miss 77 games in total.
Lillard, who is Portland’s all-time leading scorer with 19,376 points, led the franchise to eight postseason appearances, including the Western Conference finals in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. He also departs the franchise he joined in 2012 as its leader in 3-pointers made, free throws made, and scoring average.
Although the news of his trade doesn’t come as a surprise to many, his move to the Bucks will be, as many experts tipped the NBA 75th Anniversary team inductee to join the Miami Heat after his admiration for the franchise.
The Bucks move for Lillard continues the drastic change in the franchise following the arrival of new head coach Adrian Griffin, who replaced the title-winning Mike Budenholzer following the side’s surprising exit in the first round of the playoffs last season.
It also comes as a statement of intent after franchise star and two-time MVP Antetokounmpo revealed over the summer that he wanted to take a look at how committed the Bucks are to winning another championship before deciding on extending his stay in Milwaukee.
Lillard, however, brings high-level experience and scoring to a side that relies heavily on Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.1 points last season, with the closest player to him being Holiday, who averaged a whopping 11.8 points less, finishing with a 19.3-point average.
The 33-year-old, who is one of the best guards in the NBA, will form an experienced All-Star “Big Three” with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, putting the Bucks, who finished as the highest-ranked team in the 2022–23 regular season, back as one of the title favourites for the new season.
FULL TRADE DETAILS
Bucks receive
- Damian Lillard
Trail Blazers receive
- Jrue Holiday
- Deandre Ayton
- Toumani Camara
- 2029 unprotected 1st round pick (from MIL)
- Unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030
Suns receive
- Jusuf Nurkic
- Grayson Allen
- Nassir Little
- Keon Johnson
