Reports: Damian Lillard Trade To Bucks Shows Major Violation Of NBA Rules By Blazers

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.

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.

Reports: Damian Lillard Trade To Bucks Shows Major Violation Of NBA Rules By Blazers

Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report wrote a detailed post Thursday discussing the circumstances behind the Lillard trade. Among other things, Haynes claims that the Trail Blazers requested Lillard to assist them tank by agreeing to create an ailment so he could be shut down late in the season. Losing on purpose — or not providing your best effort to win games — is against league regulations.

Here’s what Haynes said:

“Portland had asked Lillard to sit out the final 10 games of the 2022-23 regular season to help the franchise improve its lottery odds. He was told the higher the draft pick, the better chance they had at using the pick to facilitate a trade for a proven veteran player. He reluctantly acquiesced to being shut down, citing a ‘calf injury.”

A report like that is enough to spark an inquiry into the Blazers for allegedly manufacturing a calf ailment for Lillard.

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.

 

 

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