The Damian Lillard and the Trailblazers drama is finally over after news broke out that Portland is shipping the six-time All-Star to the Milwaukee Bucks. Rip City is moving the 33-year-old superstar to Milwaukee via a three-team trade. Dame indeed got his wish to be traded, only that it wasn’t the Miami Heat which he persuasively intended to go to. However, after being dealt to the Bucks, Lillard’s chances of getting his first ring just got higher. Let’s take a closer look at who really won this blockbuster trade.
Damian Lillard blockbuster trade full details
Bucks receive:
Damian Lillard (via Blazers)
Trail Blazers receive:
Deandre Ayton (via Suns)
Toumani Camara (via Suns)
Jrue Holiday (via Bucks)
2029 1st-round pick (via Bucks)
Two first-round pick swaps with Bucks (2028, 2030)
Suns receive:
Grayson Allen (via Bucks)
Keon Johnson (via Blazers)
Nassir Little (via Blazers)
Jusuf Nurkic (via Blazers)
Who won the Damian Lillard trade?
On paper, the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster might have gone way better.
Although the Bucks lost defensive players like Grayson Allen and Jrue Holiday, Cream City’s offensive firepower just took a huge boost. Last season, Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 ppg resulting in being selected as an All-Star and an All-NBA Third Team member.
With that kind of production, the Bucks are now automatically favorites to win the 2024 NBA championship. The new big three of Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton might just be the best this year. Giannis is probably delighted about Dame coming to Milwaukee. This duo joins LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the only teammates who were both named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Add that with guys like Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez who will be the team’s main guys manning the paint. Dame wearing a Bucks uniform just shook the NBA, especially Eastern Conference teams like the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics.
But, the Portland Trailblazers just won this move by getting everything they needed
Letting go of Damian Lillard was tough for Portland, but things are looking great for this franchise. With Dame gone, they now have a chance to finally rebuild and restart with the 2023 3rd overall pick, Scoot Henderson. They do have Jrue Holiday now, but they are expected to move him. That being said, championship-contending teams now have shown massive interest in the 2-time NBA All-Star and 5-time All-Defensive team member. Obviously, the Trailblazers can flip Holiday into some key players they would need in order to build around Henderson.
On the other hand, Rip City also gets DeAndre Ayton, a double-double machine big man with huge potential. The team will probably be not in their best form next season, but they’re about to become better in the following years. Not to mention, they received a total of three first-round picks in this blockbuster trade alone.
Meanwhile, the Suns increase their depth following this trade
The Suns, who already have a star-studded crew of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, lacked depth in the bench prior to this trade. But, after receiving Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson, that problem may have just been solved. Allen is a good three-point shooter who averaged 10 points and 40% from three last season. Meanwhile, Little and Johnson can be good role players and reinforcements to help the Suns achieve the Larry O’Brien trophy next year. Obviously, Nurkic will be the starting center for Phoenix moving forward, although his injury history could be an issue in the future.
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