Mar 22, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz
MILWAUKEE — Damian Lillard finally got his wish.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that Damian Lillard has been traded to the Bucks in a three-team deal involving the Suns.
Wow.
Portland will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030, sources told Wojnarowski.
The Suns will receive Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
After requesting a trade more than a month ago, Lillard is on his way to Milwaukee, where he’ll form the newest super team alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo – who made his feelings about staying with the Bucks clear not long ago.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points per game last season, a career high, in a rebound season after injuries hampered him for stretches of the past two years.
The 33-year-old played his first 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers leading the franchise to eight postseason appearances, making it to the Western Conference finals in the 2018-19 season. Lillard made seven All-Star and All-NBA teams. He ranks first in team history in both points and 3-pointers and second in assists.
The Bucks have subsequently emerged as the consensus favorites to win the NBA title after the trade, with odds around 4-1 at U.S. sportsbooks. Milwaukee had been listed as the fourth-favorite, behind the defending-champion Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Suns.
