By: Owen Kutlu, Staff Writer
The landscape of the NBA drastically changed last Wednesday. The Portland Trail Blazers sent superstar guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster three-team deal that also included the Phoenix Suns.
The details of the trade were as follows:
- Trail Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, the Bucks’s 2029 unprotected first-round pick, and unprotected pick swap rights with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.
- Suns receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.
- Bucks receive: Damian Lillard.
Lillard had asked to be dealt back in July, with hopes of going to the Miami Heat. Portland sat patient for a while until they finally decided to grant his request, and traded him to the Bucks. Although it is not Miami, Lillard seems happy with his new destination, as he took to X (formerly Twitter) to say that he is “excited for [his] next chapter.”
Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, where he tallied seven All-Star appearances and over 19,000 total points, which ranks first in team history. He led Portland to the playoffs eight times in that span, including an appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19. Last season, Lillard averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists in 58 games, but sat out the final month with a calf injury.
At first glance, this trade instantly catapults Milwaukee into the conversation of championship favorites. Lillard will pair up with former two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as All-Star forward Khris Middleton. That trio should be able to lead the Bucks deep into the playoffs, potentially all the way to the title.
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst and President Peter Feigin released a statement following the trade, which said that “today is an exciting day for Milwaukee.” He continued to say, “when you have the rare opportunity to pair one of the premier NBA players with a highly versatile roster that has lofty goals, you go for it. And we’re thrilled to welcome seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks.”
The Trail Blazers have decided to rebuild around No.2 overall pick Scoot Henderson and Shaeden Sharpe after they failed to reach the playoffs for the second season in a row, despite Lillard’s stellar play. It was clear that it was time for both sides to move on, no matter how many times they pitched their long-term commitment to each other.
Portland General Manager Joe Cronin shared a few words after the trade was official. He stated, “On behalf of the entire Portland Trail Blazers Organization, I want to express my gratitude to Damian for 11 storied years with this franchise and for his loyalty to the Portland community.” Cronin added, “from becoming the all-time leading points scorer in franchise history to his dedicated commitment to youth across Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest, Damian is and will remain a titan and a true trailblazer to this city.”
The Bucks have as talented of a roster as anyone in the NBA, and Lillard looks to be in a good spot to get a crack at acquiring the first ring of his career. Only time will tell, but with Lillard and Giannis, Milwaukee fans can be excited for the near future of the franchise and the direction that they are heading in.
