Damian Lillard is TRADED to the Milwaukee Bucks in blockbuster three-team trade, as Jrue Holiday and DeAndre Ayton head to the Blazers
The Damian Lillard trade saga is over as the Bucks have reportedly landed the star point guard.
According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks are sending Jrue Holiday, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and unprotected trade rights in 2028 and 2030 to the Blazers.
Phoenix is also reportedly sending Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland, while Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson are headed to the Suns.
However, Wojnarowski has reported that the rebuilding Blazers are expected to “immediately engage contending teams” in talks to move Holiday, who turns 34 in June.
The news ends a lengthy trade process for Lillard, who spent all 11 years of his career in Portland before requesting a trade this summer.
Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster deal on Wednesday
The deal sends Jrue Holiday to the Blazers for the time being; it is expected to be moved elsewhere
Lillard will now team up with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee
Through his agent Aaron Goodwin, the seven-time All Star made it clear that he only wanted to play for the Heat, with Goodwin reportedly calling other teams and telling them not to trade for his client.
In response, the league sent a memo to Goodwin, Lillard, the players’ union and all 30 teams.
“Any future comment…suggesting that Lillard will not fully perform the services under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to disciplinary action from the NBA,” the note said, via Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
Now Lillard will team with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in search of his first title.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the franchise’s second-ever championship in 2021, with Milwaukee defeating Phoenix in six games.
Heat star Jimmy Butler seemed unhappy with the news and accused the Bucks of malpractice.
“You NBA man, y’all need to look at the Bucks for tampering,” he said. “You all do, I’m just going to put that out there. You didn’t hear it from me, but I heard it from someone.’
Mail Sport has contacted the Bucks for confirmation of the deal.