The Portland Trail Blazers have traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, according to multiple NBA reports. Lillard, who requested a trade from the Blazers on July 1, took to social media after the trade was announced.
Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers to the Miami Heat. However, since Lillard didn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, he couldn’t control where he landed.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks now have arguably the best Big 3 in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Lillard are three of the top players in the league. Each All-Star can score over 25 points on any given night and the Bucks still have an elite defense since Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are anchoring the paint.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season in 58 games while shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line. The point guard will make $45.6 million next season.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He has won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, two regular-season MVPs, one Finals MVP and one Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo recently admitted that he would leave the Bucks if there’s a better situation to win an NBA championship. Milwaukee won the 2021 title over the Phoenix Suns but lost in the second round of the 2022 playoffs to the Boston Celtics and fell to the Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks obviously heard Antetokounmpo’s comments and made him happy by trading for Lillard. Sources told NBA Analysis Network that Lillard and Antetokounmpo have wanted to play with each other for several years.
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