The Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns have announced a blockbuster trade deal that includes Damian Lillard joining the Bucks and sending local favorite Jrue Holiday to the Blazers. Grayson Allen will also be sent to the Phoenix Suns. Lillard will likely keep his dealership in Oregon, Damian Lillard Toyota (that’s just our guess.)
Here are the details of the three-way 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
Portland is expected to trade Jrue Holiday to another team as Portland begins a rebuild around No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson.
Lillard is a seven-time All-Star who can provide the Bucks with tremendous spacing thanks to his long-range shooting; he’s consistently had to take difficult shots because of the personnel around him. He’ll join Giannis, who demands as much attention in the paint as any player in the league and regularly draws double and triple-teams on drives. This could serve a big part of Giannis’ expressed desire to compete directly for a championship again.
The Vegas oddsmakers have taken notice: the Bucks were +750 odds to win the NBA Championship before the trade was announced and now it’s at +375, at least with Caesars Sportsbook.
We’ll miss you, Jrue! Loved having you in Milwaukee and would love you back at some point. Welcome, Damian!