As part of a three-team transaction that also involved the Phoenix Suns, the Portland Trail Blazers sent guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he will team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the teams said on Wednesday.
According to the teams’ press release, Portland will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s unprotected first-round draft pick in 2029, as well as unprotected Milwaukee exchange rights in 2028 and 2030.
Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson are all acquired by the Suns as part of the deal package.
According to sources, the Blazers want to approach contending clubs about trading Holiday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After Lillard officially asked to be dealt in early July, the Blazers chose to be patient and reach a deal months later.
After 11 seasons with Portland, Lillard leaves the team after being selected to seven All-Star and All-NBA teams, leading the team to the playoffs eight times, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2018–19. In terms of points, 3-pointers, and assists, he holds the top two spots in franchise history.
On Wednesday, he declared on X that he was “excited” for the following chapter.
Lillard, 33, averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists last season, but he only participated in 58 games because he missed the last month. Lillard’s 71-point performance on February 26 against the Houston Rockets was the high point of his season.
“Today is an exciting day for Milwaukee,” Bucks president Peter Feigin and general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “When you have the rare opportunity to pair one of the premier NBA players with a highly versatile roster that has lofty goals, you go for it. And we’re thrilled to welcome seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Lillard averages 32.2 points per game, which is the most by a player who switches teams the following season.
Despite Lillard’s statistics, Portland missed the playoffs for the second straight year, which was a first in his career. After each of the two seasons, the Blazers decided to keep their draft pick, most recently selecting guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 2 overall pick. Soon after, Lillard requested a trade.
After the transaction, the Bucks became the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA championship, with odds of roughly 4-1 at American sportsbooks. Milwaukee had been ranked as the fourth favorite, after the Suns, the Boston Celtics, and the Denver Nuggets, the reigning champions.
