-Portland receives a 2029 first-round pick and the right to trade MIL’s 2028 and 2030 first-round picks-
-Team trades Damian Lillard for MIL and Keon Johnson, Nassir Little and Jusuf Nurkic for PHX-
PORTLAND, Ore. (September 27, 2023) – The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired the center Deandre Ayton and forward Toumani Camara from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a guard Keon Johnsonforward Nassir Little and center Yusuf Nurkic, the team announced today. In addition, Portland was taken over Jrue holidaya 2029 first-round pick and the right to trade the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a guard Damian Lillard. Milwaukee also sends guard Grayson Allen to Phoenix.
“On behalf of the entire Portland Trail Blazers Organization, I would like to express my gratitude to Damian for 11 years with this franchise and for his loyalty to the Portland community,” said General Manager Joe Cronin. “From becoming the all-time leading scorer in franchise history to his dedicated commitment to youth in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest, Damian is and will continue to be a titan and a true leader in this city.”
“I would also like to thank Jusuf Nurkic for his dedication to Portland over the last seven seasons,” Cronin said. “A consummate professional on and off the field, Nurk has been an important leader for this team and we appreciate his commitment and passion for this franchise, the city and the fans.”
“Thank you also to Keon Johnson and Nassir Little for their contributions to the Trail Blazers and Portland,” Cronin added. “We wish Dame, Nurk, Keon and Nas much success for the future.”
During the 2022–23 season, Ayton averaged 18.0 points (58.9% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 76.0% FT), 10.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game in 67 games (all starts). . Originally selected with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton has career averages of 16.7 points (59.7% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 25.5% FT), 10.4 rebounds, 1 .6 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game in 303 games (296 starts) in his five seasons with Phoenix.
Holiday averaged 19.3 points (47.9% FG, 38.4% 3-PT, 85.9% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 in 67 games (65 starts) during the 2022-23 season Assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game Milwaukee. The 14-year veteran guard has career averages of 16.4 points (46.2% FG, 36.6% 3-PT, 78.3% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 Steals, 0.5 blocks and 33.1 minutes per game in 906 games (825). begins.
Camara was drafted with the No. 52 overall pick in this year’s 2023 NBA Draft. The rookie forward played in 125 games (106 starts) and averaged 11.0 points (51.3% FG, 30.7% 3-PF) over four seasons at Dayton (2021-23) and Georgia (2019-21). , 63.1% FT), 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game.
Lillard was drafted by the Trail Blazers out of Weber State with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He appeared in 769 games (all starts) over 11 seasons in Portland and averaged 25.2 points (43.9% FG, 37.2% 3-PT, 89.5% FT), 4th in his career .2 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 36.3 minutes per game. He ranks first among all-time franchise leaders in points (19,376), points per game (25.2), three-pointers made (2,387), free throws made (4,427), and free throw percentage (89.5%) second in field goals (6,281). ) and assists (5,151), third in games played (769) and minutes per game (36.3), fourth in assists per game (6.7), and sixth in triple-doubles (3 – tied) and steals (732) . During his time with Portland, Lillard was a seven-time NBA All-Star member and a member of the All-NBA First Team (2018), Second Team (2021, 2020, 2019, 2016) and Third Team (2023, 2014) selection NBA Anniversary Teams, 2021 NBA Teammate of the Year, 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA All-Rookie First Team selection (2013). The Trail Blazers made the playoffs in eight of Lillard’s seasons in Portland, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2019 and the Western Conference semifinals in 2016 and 2014. Lillard also won a gold medal with the U.S. men’s national team at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.
Nurkic spent the last seven seasons in Portland, where he averaged 14.4 points (51.3% FG, 29.8% 3-PT, 69.3% FT), 9.8 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per game, Scored 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 16 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was traded to Denver on draft night. In 463 games (382 starts) with Portland and Denver, he posted career averages of 12.3 points (50.2% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 67.1% FT), 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 Assists and 1.2 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game. The Bosnian native ranks fourth in Trail Blazers franchise history in rebounds per game (9.8) and tenth in total rebounds (2,280).
The Trail Blazers originally acquired Johnson from the LA Clippers on February 4, 2022. In two seasons with Portland and the LA Clippers, Johnson has posted a career average of 5.9 points (36.2% FG, 34.3% 3-PT, 73.9% FT). 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.60 steals and 14.4 minutes per game in 77 games (12 starts). He appeared in 40 games with Portland last season and averaged 4.7 points (37.6% FG, 34.6% 3-PT, 65.9% FT), 1.1 rebounds in 10 minutes per game and 1.5 assists.
Little was selected 25th overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2019 NBA Draft. He appeared in 192 games (34 starts) in Portland and holds career averages of 6.0 points (45.1% FG, 33.5% 3-PT, 72.5% FT) and 3.2 rebounds, 0, 8 assists and 0.4 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game. Last season, the former North Carolina star averaged 6.6 points (44.2% FG, 36.7% 3-PT, 71.7% FT), 2.6 in 54 games (four starts) with Portland rebounds and 0.9 assists and 18 minutes per game.