The Milwaukee Bucks disrupted the NBA landscape by reportedly acquiring Damian Lillard.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Portland Trail Blazers will receive Jrue Holiday and DeAndre Ayton in a three-team deal involving the Phoenix Suns. After years of playing without a superstar teammate, Lillard joins forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the Miami Heat was often cited as Lillard’s preferred landing spot, the star point guard may be happy to align with the Greek Freak.
In May 2022, a fan asked Lillard to name an active player he’d team with in order to make a playoff run. Lillard chose Giannis.
Giannis https://t.co/x44aDOW4XM
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 15, 2022
On the other hand, Lillard declined a fan’s request to go to Milwaukee two years ago.
Lillard averaged 25.2 points and 6.7 assists over 11 seasons at Portland. He’ll leave as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader, but his tenure included five first-round playoff exits before missing the postseason in back-to-back years.
At his new home, the elite playmaker will team with a two-time MVP who averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game last season. Giannis, Lillard, and Khris Middleton give Milwaukee one of the league’s most formidable trios after a stunning opening-round exit by the No. 8-seeded Heat.
The Bucks should be considered strong contenders to make a deeper run this postseason. Lillard could make his team debut when opening the 2023-24 campaign against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Oct. 26.