Damian Lillard Traded To Bucks, What’s Next For Heats After The Failed Trade?

Damian Lillard will be moved to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team transaction that also includes the Phoenix Suns, according to CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter. In exchange for Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and draft capital, the Portland Trail Blazers will acquire Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson from the Phoenix Suns. The decision comes as a huge surprise for Lillard, who has spent the offseason pleading for a trade to the Miami Heat in particular. Instead, he joins the Bucks more than two months after requesting a trade.

Damian Lillard Traded To Bucks, What’s Next For Heats After The Failed Trade?

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Here are the details of the blockbuster deal:

  • Bucks receive: Damian Lillard
  • Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Bucks’ 2029 first-round pick (unprotected), swap rights on Bucks’ 2028 and 2030 picks
  • Suns receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson

This is a setback for the Miami Heat, who had been Lillard’s preferred destination since he sought a trade on July 1. Since then, the Trail Blazers and Heat have only spoken sparingly about a trade as tensions between the two teams have grown.

Following reports that Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin advised teams not to trade for his client, the NBA issued a memo to all 30 teams in late July stating that any player, or his agent, who makes public or private comments indicating he will not “fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade” will face discipline.

Because of his notorious long-range shooting, Lillard, a seven-time All-Star, can offer the Bucks with significant spacing. Only Stephen Curry and James Harden have made more 3-pointers than him since joining the NBA. While his career long-range percentage of 37.2% isn’t quite outstanding on paper, he’s regularly had to take tough shots due to the talent around him.

He’ll now be teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who commands as much attention in the paint as any other player in the NBA and often draws double and triple teams on drives. When healthy, Lillard and Khris Middleton should be able to feast on open looks for a powerful Bucks team in 2023-24.

With Lillard off the table, the Heat may focus on other moves or wait for the next top player to become dissatisfied with his present team and seek a trade. James Harden, who requested a trade in July, is still in Philadelphia for the time being. There is rising speculation about what the Cleveland Cavaliers will do with Donovan Mitchell, who is reportedly unlikely to sign a contract extension with the team. The Trail Blazers are apparently looking to move Holiday, who is 33 years old and does not suit the team’s current plan.

However, now that the Lillard issue is over, Miami can be patient in how it augments its squad.

 

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