It’s no secret that Damian Lillard has wanted has wanted out of Portland. The obvious landing spots for the Trail Blazers’ superstar point guard appeared to be either Boston or Miami, with no other Eastern Conference contenders seemingly making sense as a trade destination.
Well, that was until Wednesday.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski are both reporting that the Bucks, Suns and Portland have agreed to a three-team trade that sends Lillard to Milwaukee. Deandre Ayton will be heading back to the Trail Blazers, while Phoenix has acquired Jusuf Nurkic.
Sources: Portland, Milwaukee and Phoenix have agreed to a three-team trade:
Bucks get: Damian Lillard
Suns: Jusuf Nurkic
Blazers: Deandre Ayton— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 27, 2023
BREAKING: The Portland Trail Blazers are trading guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FRgQyDVjQG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 27, 2023
There’s more though.
Here are the details from Wojnarowski:
“Lillard goes Milwaukee as part of a 3-team deal with Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected MIL 1st, and unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers. Phoenix lands Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson,” the ESPN NBA insider wrote in a post on X.
Wojanrowksi added, “The Blazers remain engaged elsewhere on deals and will are expected to immediately engage contending teams on trade talks to move on Jrue Holiday, sources tell ESPN. Portland is committed to its young group of talented guards.”
This is an absolutely massive blockbuster trade, so naturally, those in the sports world were quick to give their thoughts and opinions on the major move.
Flashback to when Giannis picked Damian Lillard on his All-Star team and predicted he would hit the game-winner. ⌚️
Now they’re together in Milwaukee!!🦌 https://t.co/HVOl6el3la pic.twitter.com/zPgLclF4yg
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 27, 2023
So wait… a team that didn’t need to trade a player in July waited to see if things would change over time? Has a team ever done this?
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) September 27, 2023
Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo in recent years flirted with idea of playing with one another but the hold up was each star wanted the other to join their team. Milwaukee landed Antetokounmpo’s desired star mate.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 27, 2023
https://t.co/08C8Jsj5le pic.twitter.com/eqExtymlSo
— Fire EveRByone (@RyB_311) September 27, 2023
Damian Lillard averaged 32.2 PPG last season, which would be the most in NBA history by a player to start the next season on a new team.
Lillard, who turned 33 in July, has 4 years and $216.1M left on his contract. https://t.co/56KNcfEVim pic.twitter.com/5r5AxSQGYY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 27, 2023
Losing Jrue is Big. That’s all imma say
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) September 27, 2023
The Heat are cooked https://t.co/L2MLhXld4G
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 27, 2023
Just saw all of this live on @MadDogRadio…may have jumped out of my chair and screamed. #BeadleAndDecker https://t.co/33l6tWXX40 pic.twitter.com/KJdUFGqGut
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) September 27, 2023
Someone, please check on all the poor souls who for months insisted — with absolute certitude, bordering on sanctimony — that Dame could *only* end up in Miami, because, er, reasons.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) September 27, 2023
It’s a good day to be a Milwaukee fan
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 27, 2023
Giannis: "I want everybody on the same page competing for a championship… If I don't feel that, I'm not [re]-signing."
The Bucks one month later: https://t.co/lJtvdUGZ03
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 27, 2023
https://t.co/atFiQBIvqR pic.twitter.com/QdcWr0P07Z
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 27, 2023
The biggest WOJ BOMB in history?? Bucks have to be the favorite now right? https://t.co/7dy09ObVVk
— Tyrone Muggsy Bogues (@MuggsyBogues) September 27, 2023
I JUST WOKE UP FROM A YEAR AND A HALF COMA AND THE FIRST THING I SEE IS THE BUCKS ARE TRADING FOR DAME??? https://t.co/wAZCbpr5BX
— dean 🦂 (@DeanScorpion_) September 27, 2023
Lillard’s Milwaukee debut will come on Thursday, October 26th vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
[Shams Charania, Adrian Wojnarowski on X]