Matthew Adams
Managing Editor
Former Portland Trailblazers superstar, Damian Lillard, was involved in a 3-team trade that included the Portland Trailblazers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Milwaukee Bucks. The trade included both picks and players.
This comes as a surprise to many as the Miami Heat were in talks to acquire the now Bucks point guard. If this scenario were to happen, Lillard would have joined the Heat with the likes of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
The Trailblazers look to fill the void of losing Lillard by acquiring Deandre Ayton (via the Suns), Toumani Camara (via the Suns), and Jrue Holiday (via the Bucks). The Trailblazers gain a point-guard and center who have both playoff and Finals experience.
Holiday was a part of the 2021 Championship Milwaukee Bucks team that defeated Chris Paul and Devin Booker led the Suns with the addition of Deandre Ayton. With Portland becoming a young team, adding these players will help grow players such as Anfernee Simmons and Shaedon Sharpe.
With the addition of Ayton, the Trailblazers get a center who averages a double-double and will replace Jusuf Nurkic.
The Phoenix Suns were the only team during this trade that acquired just players. This trade gave the Suns Grayson Allen (via Bucks), Keon Johnson (via Blazers), Nassir Little (via Blazers), and Nurkic (via Blazers).
Lillard joins Giannis Antentokoumpo and Khris Middleton, two stars who averaged 15+ points and helped to propel the Bucks to a championship. Before coming to Milwaukee, Lillard was the main scorer. Now he will have to share those points with Giannis Antentokoumpo.
The Weber University alum averaged 25.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds with the Portland Trailblazers. He was able to take them to the playoffs numerous times throughout his tenure with the team.
As the season approaches, people are inquisitive about the dynamics between the players on the team. Some may feel as if it won’t work and some feel they may take it all the way.
Noah Mason a junior graphic design major from New Orleans, La., had mixed feelings about the trade.
Mason stated, “Luckily the Bucks were able to make a good trade. I expect Damian Lillard to possibly average a triple-double.”
This trade was able to send shockwaves throughout the league. The higher-ups are the first people to feel the impact of the trade and understand the trade fully in its essence.
General Managers and coaches want the best when it comes to trade, especially from a superstar such as Lillard. Front offices will have to give up a good amount of players and picks to accomplish these trades.
That’s why the most sensible thing for front offices to do is incorporate multiple teams such as this trade did.
Former Pistons shooting guard and now Trailblazers coach, Chauncey Billups, had this say when asked if he felt that the supporters of the Trailblazers accepted and supported the trade.
According to NBA.com, Billups stated,” Look, we have incredible fans. Everybody in the NBA knows we have a fan base that is top-notch. The truth of the matter is, no matter what, they’re still going to be Dame fans. One hundred percent of our fan base will be Dame fans – it doesn’t matter where he’s playing. But they’re also going to be Trail Blazer fans.”
Blockbuster trades like this happen very rarely. This trade will show the potential that Damian Lillard can provide to another team with other superstar players.
As the preseason starts, teams will now have to devise a plan to potentially stop the lethal trio of players in Lillard, Antentokoumpo, and Middleton.
