After months of speculation and rumors, the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to move Damian Lillard in a three-team trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
The Trail Blazers will send Lillard to the Bucks in exchange for Jrue Holiday, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and two unprotected pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. They will also receive Deandre Ayton and rookie Toumani Camara from the Suns.
The trade comes after the seven-time NBA All-Star requested to be moved in July. He informed the Trail Blazers that his preferred destination was the Miami Heat, but they never seriously engaged in trade conversations and the organization went in a different direction.
The Trail Blazers are expected to find a trade partner to move Holiday. The organization is said to be committed to moving forward with its younger players, which include Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and Camara, the 52nd pick this year.
The full details of the trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
- Bucks receive: Damian Lillard
- Trail Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, 2029 unprotected first-round pick, unprotected first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 with Bucks
- Suns receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson
Lillard seemingly approved of the trade on social media.
The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be … and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned
Excited for my next chapter! @Bucks 🎟️
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 27, 2023
Following the trade, the Bucks became the favorite (plus-400) to win the championship with Lillard in the picture, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook. They narrowly top the Denver Nuggets (plus-475), Boston Celtics (plus-500) and Suns (plus-650).
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