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The Milwaukee Bucks heard Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s comments<\/span> and answered with a blockbuster move.<\/p>\n All-NBA guard Damian Lillard is headed to Milwaukee to team up with Antetokounmpo as part of a three-team trade that will see Deandre Ayton and Jrue Holiday head to Portland and Jusuf Nurkic and others going to Phoenix. The trade was broken by ESPN\u2019s Adrian Wojnarowski <\/a><\/span>and Shams Charania of The Athletic<\/a><\/span> and since has been confirmed by multiple sources.<\/p>\n The trade breaks down this way: This is a star move by the Bucks, getting Antetokounmpo a big-name running mate that TNT\u2019s Chris Hanes reports the Greek Freak wanted to play with.<\/p>\n In a Fresno barbershop called Phase II a few months ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked of the one player he would like to play with. His response was Damian Lillard.<\/p>\n \u2014 Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 27, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is a win for the Bucks, not just because of Lillard for Holiday \u2014 that trade off is a lot closer than some fans think \u2014 but because it puts pressure on Antetokounmpo to sign a max extension to stay in Milwaukee next summer. He said he wanted to see a commitment Lillard had pushed a Miami-or-bust trade scenario, but at the heart of his request to leave the only team he had ever known in Portland was to go somewhere with a chance to contend. He has that now next to a top-three player on the planet. That likely is enough to keep Lillard and Antetokounmpo happy for a few years. It should be noted that one of the top assistants on Bucks\u2019 rookie coach Adrian Griffin\u2019s staff is Terry Stotts, the long-time Trail Blazers coach.<\/p>\n The casuals won\u2019t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be \u2026 and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned <\/p>\n Excited for my next chapter! @Bucks<\/a> \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u2014 Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 27, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n However, losing Holiday and replacing him with Lillard will be a blow to the Bucks\u2019 stout defense. That is going to put a lot more pressure on Brook Lopez (and the Bucks\u2019 coaching staff) to cover up that loss.<\/p>\n Holiday had said recently he hoped to sign an extension with Milwaukee and retire there<\/span>, this has to be a blow to him. While Holiday would be a great mentor for Scoot Henderson, expect the Trail Blazers to flip him quickly (and certainly by the NBA trade deadline) to another team \u2014 and there will be a long line for Holiday\u2019s services, starting with the 76ers (who reportedly are interested<\/a><\/span>), Heat and Clippers. From Portland\u2019s perspective, Holiday will be easier to flip in a trade than Tyler Herro would have been from the Heat in that rumored trade.<\/p>\n The Suns have their stars \u2014 Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal \u2014 what they needed was depth, and this trade brings them a solid rotation player in Allen, and two guys trying to reach that level in Little and Johnson, players who will get their chance now. Nurkic is unquestionably a downgrade from Deandre Ayton, but when healthy he is a big body defender in the paint who can play drop coverage, and he shot 36.1% from 3 last season. Nurkic is an innings eater who will help in the regular season.<\/p>\n Ayton had been frustrated about the number of touches he got and his place in the pecking order of the Suns\u2019 offense in the past, issues that would have been worse this season when he was the fourth option. How well he fits in Portland with a young team will be interesting to watch.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Milwaukee receives:<\/b> Damian Lillard
Portland receives:<\/b> Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Bucks 2029 first-round pick, and two pick swaps from the Bucks
Phoenix receives:<\/b> Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keyon Johnson, Grayson Allen<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
from the organization, well, here it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n