By Jesse Omozusi
On October 8, 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers traded seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal that also involved the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks received Lillard and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick from the Blazers, while the Suns received Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson. The Blazers received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030.
The trade brought together two of the best players in the NBA: Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard is a seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, while Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year. Both players are coming off 30-point-per-game seasons, potentially forming the most lethal scoring duo the NBA has seen since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Additionally, Giannis and Dame’s playstyles perfectly complement each other, as defences are forced to scheme against them in polar opposite ways. There is no team in the league with the defensive personnel to cover the deep ball, the pick-and-roll, and the low post.
For the Blazers, the trade was a bittersweet one. Lillard was the franchise’s cornerstone player for over a decade, and he helped to lead the team to the playoffs six times. However, the Blazers had failed to make the playoffs in the past two seasons, and it was time for a change. Sending Dame to Portland creates room for their newly drafted star, Scoot Henderson.