BREAKING: Giannis' Bucks Get Lillard in 3-Team Trade; Mavs' Target Ayton to Blazers
At long last, the Damian Lillard trade saga is over, and despite his demands for the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him only to the Miami Heat, Portland's GM Joe Cronin opted to send his franchise star to a different Eastern Conference contender.
According to multiple reports, the Blazers have agreed to send Lillard to Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team blockbuster that also includes Phoenix Suns big man – and former Dallas Mavericks trade target from July's NBA Draft – Deandre Ayton.
Here are the full details of the trade, provided by The Athletic's Shams Charania: Bucks receive: Damian Lillard. Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 first-round pick (Bucks) and a pick swap (Bucks). Suns receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson and Grayson Allen.
There's a new star duo in the Eastern Conference: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the Milwaukee Bucks.
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After Antetokounmpo hinted on multiple occasions this offseason that would consider leaving the Bucks when his current contract ends, the Milwaukee front office took swift action to shake things up and pair another star player in Lillard alongside the "Greek Freak."
Although the Mavs now seem content with starting the season with their current cast of centers, which includes promising rookie Dereck Lively II, Richaun Holmes and Dwight Powell, they reportedly had trade talks with the Suns for Ayton on the night of the draft in July. However, the Suns didn't like the Mavs' offer of Tim Hardaway Jr., Holmes and JaVale McGee, who has since been waived.
In theory, the Mavs could still try to pull off a trade for Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela if they still want a veteran center presence aside from Powell and Holmes, but for now, Ayton is off the table ... and the Giannis-to-Dallas pipe-dream, which seemingly had new life a few weeks ago, could be dead once again.
