NBA Swing BREAKING NEWS: Damian Lillard is a Milwaukee Buck

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Nearly three months after initially requesting a trade from the Portland Trailblazers, Damian Lillard has been traded. In a move that few saw coming, Dame is going to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal. First reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, the three-team deal goes as follows:

Milwaukee Bucks Receive:

Damian Lillard

Portland Trailblazers Receive

Jrue Holiday
Deandre Ayton
Toumani Camara
2029 unprotected MIL 1st
Unprotected MIL pick swap rights in 2028 & 2030

Phoenix Suns Receive:

Jusuf Nurkic
Grayson Allen
Nassir Little
Keon Johnson

This blockbuster trade sees Dame join one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, who will be seen as championship contenders if Dame remains in Milwaukee. The combination of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be one of the most dangerous duos in the league. While Milwaukee does lose one of their best defenders in Jrue Holiday, they have accomplished their main goal if Lillard stays and that’s keeping Giannis happy by keeping the Bucks as a championship contender. Rumors earlier in the week noted Portland was all but done with the Miami Heat in regard to Lillard trade talks, with other teams including the Toronto Raptors being viewed as front runners. Multiple reports also noted Lillard would request a trade to the Heat. He was not traded to Miami, but he landed in one of the best situations he possibly could. Only time will tell if Lillard commits to Milwaukee or request a trade to Miami.

For the Portland Trailblazers, they got one of the best packages they could in return. Reports have already come out that Portland is looking to flip Jrue Holiday, who does not fit their timeline, but could bring back another pick or young star from a championship contender. Adding big man Deandre Ayton from Phoenix is key for the rebuilding team, as he fits the timeline the Blazers are now looking at while giving him the touches he would not have been able to get in Phoenix this upcoming season. Rookie Toumani Camara will also give Portland another young talent to grow as Portland starts its rebuild. One of the best parts of the trade for Portland is the picks. If Milwaukee were to fall apart in the next few years, those picks and pick swaps would easily become some of the most valuable in the league.

For the Phoenix Suns, rumors of the team being interested in getting involved in the Dame trade popped up only recently, and they got a great return for their involvement. For the Suns, getting off Ayton’s contract is seen as a win, allowing them to add more talent while also reducing their cap. Jusuf Nurkic is a reliable big man who can give the Suns decent scoring and similar rebounding to Ayton. Grayson Allen is another great addition for the Suns, who bolstered their roster with several shooters this offseason. Shooting nearly 40% from three on five attempts per game, Allen will likely play a significant role coming off the bench. Sophomores Nassir Little and Keon Johnson both give the Suns more depth for a low cost, but only time will tell how productive the two are for Phoenix.

The blockbuster Dame trade creates several questions for those who were involved and rumored to be involved. The most important question is whether Damian Lillard will request a trade to Miami. While his agent has stated he would request a trade to Miami if not traded there initially, he has joined a legitimate championship contender in Milwaukee. For Miami, the biggest question is if they’ll make another move given the fact they lost out on Dame. Some reports earlier in the summer suggested the team could be interested in James Harden as a backup target, but those reports were never expanded upon. While nothing has been reported in a while, it is clear the relationship between Miami and sharpshooter Tyler Herro has been fractured due to Herro constantly being in Dame trade rumors. It’s entirely possible that Herro could request a trade if that that relationship is not fixed. For the Eastern Conference as a whole, the question being asked is if any other teams will make moves in response to the Dame trade. James Harden trades have died down, the Knicks are quietly waiting with their war chest of assets, and Boston’s acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis may or may not be enough to stop a Dame x Giannis pairing. With training camp less than a week away, the Damian Lillard trade could cause a ripple effect before the 2023-24 season starts.