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Wow … what?
After nearly an entire NBA offseason of stasis between the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat, superstar point guard Damian Lillard has been traded to the … Milwaukee Bucks!?
The shocking move — a three-team deal that also sent guard Jrue Holiday and 2018 No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to the Trail Blazers and big man Jusuf Nurkic to the Phoenix Suns — doesn’t just dash the hopes of Heat fans, it creates an even more powerful juggernaut in Milwaukee led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who now has another All-NBA talent by his side.
Did Milwaukee just become the unquestioned 2023-24 NBA title favorite? Which teams should be calling Portland about a deal for Holiday? Did Phoenix get better around its three stars? Where does Miami go from here?
Our panel of NBA insiders is breaking down what the biggest trade of the offseason means for all sides.
1. Lillard to the Bucks is _____.
Jamal Collier: League-altering. This move elevates the Bucks into superteam status, changes the conversation around Antetokounmpo’s impending future and sets the table for Lillard, after a decade in the league, to shine on his first true playoff stage with championship expectations.
Bobby Marks: Not risky. On the surface, trading for 33-year-old Lillard and the $200 million left on his contract is a huge gamble, especially considering Lillard has played a total of 87 games in the past two seasons. But when you factor in that the cost to retain Holiday could have reached $223 million on a new contract, the risk is mitigated. Also, if Holiday left next offseason as a free agent, Milwaukee had only the $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception to replace him.
Tim Bontemps: Stunning. I’m not sure it makes the Bucks much better, but it continues a trend of doing things that (seemingly) are designed to make Antetokounmpo happy. And if this helps him stay in Milwaukee long term, it’s an unquestionable win.
Dave McMenamin: Clyde…
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