The Milwaukee Bucks just pulled a shocking trade by landing Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. That was the only player Milwaukee acquired in the three-team deal.
Portland received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 first-round pick, and two pick swaps. Phoenix received Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.
This trade is such a win for the Milwaukee Bucks. With all of the rumors going on about Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is something that will keep him around for the long haul. Damian Lillard will now get a chance to win an NBA Championship this season in Milwaukee. It’s a much better chance than in Portland.
The Milwaukee Bucks Landing Damian Lillard Via Trade Means They’re Taking Another Risk
The Milwaukee Bucks will get one of the best offensive players in the NBA to go alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. A season ago with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard averaged 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 7.3 APG. He also shot 46.3% from the field.
Damian Lillard is 33 years old. The Bucks are in win-now mode, and they are taking a risk with this trade. Yes, they do get better by getting rid of Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen in this deal. They will miss Holiday’s defense, but Lillard is by far better than he is. Allen is a free agent at the end of the season, and they weren’t going to re-sign him anyway.
Portland Trail Blazers Land Big Man Deandre Ayton
The Phoenix Suns did not have enough basketballs to go around, so it made sense they traded away center Deandre Ayton. He will be the primary player in Portland as this team is about to enter a rebuild. The Trail Blazers also get a key veteran in Jrue Holiday.
Ayton, a season ago with the Phoenix Suns, averaged 18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG, along with shooting 58.9% from the field. Holiday will be missed on the Milwaukee Bucks.
Phoenix Suns Improve Depth Play
The Phoenix Suns will have one of the better big threes in the NBA this season with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. Phoenix replaces Ayton with Jusuf Nurkic. He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA at the center position.
Nurkic averaged 13.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 2.9 APG a season ago, along with shooting 51.9% from the field. Grayson Allen will be a nice backup player for the Suns offense. It was worth it for the Bucks to give up Allen anyway to land Damian Lillard. Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst deserves a ton of credit for this trade. They will be one of the favorites to win the 2023-2024 NBA title.
