It’s officially Dame Time in Milwaukee!
After spending 11 seasons in a Portland Trail Blazers jersey, Damian Lillard has been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks! Here’s a breakdown of the three-team deal, which also involved the Phoenix Suns, and all the reactions to the deal including ours.
As soon as free agency hit after the 2022-23 season, Lillard sent out a request for a trade. His request was heavily influenced by Portland’s inability to build a championship-contending team around him. Initially, Miami was the only team on Dame’s list that he wanted to sign with. This scenario, obviously, didn’t come to fruition.
So, how did he end up in Milwaukee? Let’s take it back a bit.
April 2023
The Blazers wrap up a losing season and Lillard proclaims he wants “a chance to go for it” when asked about drafting another young player to help the team in the season ahead.
May 2023
Portland lands the third pick in the NBA Draft Lottery affording them an asset to move for a proven veteran to help Lillard.
June 2023
Lillard hints at Miami being the only team he’d go to if traded. Later in the month, Portland drafts Scoot Henderson with the third pick, along with a few other young players in the Draft. The team announces their commitment to building a contending team around Lillard.
July 2023
Lillard requests trade to Miami Heat as free agency opens. His request is very specific, as he looked to team up with Jimmy Butler and Adebayo. Later in the month, the NBA sends a League-wide memo noting that Lillard’s only trade request is for Miami.
August 2023
Miami starts to work on the trade package but no real traction is made.
September 25, 2023
The Raptors entered the chat. But the seriousness of discussions was unclear.
September 27, 2023
The Blazers trade Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal including the Suns.
Milwaukee… IT'S DAME TIME! ⏱️#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/xPR2uL6Q4n
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 28, 2023
With Milwaukee winning the Damian Lillard trade, Portland and Phoenix will receive the following:
Portland receives Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, and unprotected swap rights in 2028 and 2030.
The Suns receive Jusuf Turkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.
It has also been noted that Portland is in talks with contending teams regarding Holiday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn2W7IU3N_4
Now, as you can imagine, the reactions on social media have been pouring in from NBA players, analysts, other celebrities, fans, and more. For us, at Urban Magazine, it’s a bittersweet moment seeing “Lillard” on the back of a uniform that isn’t Portland. But as basketball fans, it will be very interesting to see how the two powerhouses, Giannis and Dame, will play out as the season unfolds. Needless to say, the Eastern Conference just got really interesting! Are the Celtics still favored to come out in the East? Will the Bucks give them a run for their money? Will Giannis and Dame as a duo even work?
We shall all see soon enough.
Just woke up and saw the news.
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) September 27, 2023
NBA = The Greatest Show On Earth.
Losing Jrue is Big. That’s all imma say
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) September 27, 2023
This will be the most exciting NBA season if everybody stays healthy.
— Antoine Walker (@WalkerAntoine8) September 27, 2023
