The Portland Trail Blazers transferred guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a three-team transaction that also includes the Phoenix Suns, the franchises confirmed on Wednesday.
Portland will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s unprotected first-round draft pick in 2029, and unprotected Milwaukee exchange rights in 2028 and 2030, according to the teams’ announcement.
The Suns acquire Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson as part of the deal package.
The Blazers are expected to engage contending clubs in trade talks to move Holiday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The transaction comes months after Lillard formally requested a trade in early July, as the Blazers chose a patient approach to negotiations.
Lillard is leaving Portland after 11 seasons, during which he was named to seven All-Star and All-NBA teams and guided the team to the playoffs eight times, including a Western Conference finals appearance in 2018-19. He is #1 in team history in points and three-pointers, and second in assists.
He told X on Wednesday that he is “excited” for the new chapter.
Lillard, 33, had a career year last season, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists, but he only appeared in 58 games after missing the last month. The pinnacle of Lillard’s season occurred on February 26 against the Houston Rockets.
“Today is an exciting day for Milwaukee,” Bucks president Peter Feigin and general manager Jon Horst said in a joint statement. “When you have the unique opportunity to pair one of the best NBA players with a dynamic squad with lofty aspirations, you seize it. And we are excited to welcome seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Lillard’s 32.2 points per game is the highest for a player who changes teams the following season.
“His character, competitiveness, talent and experience complement our group and gives us the best chance to win at the very highest level as we create new memories together,” Horst said in a statement.
Despite Lillard’s stats, Portland missed the playoffs for the second straight season, marking the first time in his career. The Blazers decided to maintain their draft picks after both seasons, most recently drafting guard Scoot Henderson with the second overall pick. Lillard’s trade request arrived shortly after.
“I want to thank Damian for 11 storied years with this franchise and for his dedication to the Portland community,” Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said. “From becoming the all-time leading points scorer in franchise history to his dedicated commitment to youth across Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest, Damian is and will remain a titan and a true trailblazer to this city.”
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