Damian Lillard, NBA world react to stunning trade that will team All-Star with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Bucks

Scott Rafferty

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Damian Lillard, NBA world react to stunning trade that will team All-Star with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Bucks image

Damian Lillard has been traded ... but not to the Heat.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Trail Blazers have agreed to trade Lillard to the Bucks in a three-team deal involving the Suns.

The news came as a huge surprise. It was well known that the Heat were at the top of Lillard's wishlist and the Raptors were said to have emerged as "front-runners" in the days leading up to the trade. The Bucks weren't reported as being in the mix.

Following 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, Lillard will now team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton on a Bucks team that has the firepower to win another championship. Lillard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. He'll make a big difference to the Bucks considering they ranked 15th in offensive efficiency last season.

As part of the deal, the Trail Blazers will reportedly receive Jrue Holiday and Deandre Ayton while the Suns land Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen and Nassir Little. Full details here.

The NBA world was quick to react to the trade on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.