ESPNSep 27, 2023, 2:24 PM ET3 Minute Read
Ladies time! Relive Damian Lillard’s clutch shots with the Blazers
Take a look back at some of Damian Lillard’s stunning moments in Portland as his time there comes to a close.
The Portland Trail Blazers are trading guard Damian Lillard alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal that also includes the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.
Portland will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s unprotected 2029 first-round draft pick, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030, sources told Wojnarowski.
The Suns will receive Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson, sources told Wojnarowski.
The deal comes months after Lillard officially requested a trade in early July as the Blazers decided to take a patient approach to negotiations.
Lillard leaves Portland after 11 seasons in which he made seven All-Star and All-NBA teams and led the franchise to the playoffs eight times, including the Western Conference finals in 2018-19. He ranks first in team history in both points and 3-pointers made and second in assists.
Lillard, 33, had a career year last season, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists, but played in just 58 games as he sat out the final month of the season. The highlight of Lillard’s season came on February 26 against the Houston Rockets when he scored 71 points.
Lillard’s 32.2 points per game are the most points scored by a player the following season, according to a study by ESPN Stats & Information.
Despite Lillard’s numbers, Portland failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time in his career. The Blazers decided to keep their draft pick after both seasons, most recently selecting guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 2 overall pick. Lillard’s trade request came shortly after.
Sources told Wojnarowski that the Blazers remain involved in deals elsewhere and that they are expected to immediately begin trade discussions with rival teams to move forward over the holidays. Portland is committed to its young group of talented guards.
The Bucks emerged as the consensus favorite to win the NBA title after the trade, with odds of around 4-1 at US sportsbooks. Milwaukee was listed as the fourth favorite behind the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Suns.