Report: Bucks land Damian Lillard in stunning three-team trade
Report: Bucks land Damian Lillard in stunning three-team trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The landscape of the NBA’s Eastern Conference just changed dramatically.
The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a massive three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.
Here’s the full deal, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania:
The deal gives two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and three-time All-Star Khris Middleton an elite running mate in Lillard, a seven-time All-Star who averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season, a Blazers franchise record.
Lillard was open about the Miami Heat being his preferred trade destination this offseason, while several other teams — including the Boston Celtics — reportedly inquired about adding Lillard as well. Instead, the Celtics, Heat and the rest of the East will have to contend with a formidable Bucks squad featuring a loaded potential starting five of Lillard, Malik Beasley, Middleton, Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Milwaukee’s blockbuster comes about a month after Antetokounmpo left open the possibility that he could leave the Bucks if the team didn’t have more success in the future.
It sounds like Giannis’ comments landed in the Bucks’ front office — with ramifications for Milwaukee’s East competitors.
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Source: Yahoo Sports
