Jimmy Butler: Bucks Should Be Investigated for Lillard Trade Tampering

The Miami Heat failed to sign Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, and star forward Jimmy Butler was upset.

Butler accused Milwaukee of tampering to obtain Lillard on social media Wednesday.

“Yo, NBA, man, y’all need to look into the Bucks for tampering, y’all do,” stated. “I’ll sаy it. I heard that from someone else, not you…”

Butler isn’t alone in thinking something wrong happened before Lillard joined Milwaukee. Heat guard Tyler Herro retweeted the video and added, “What he said.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Blazers traded Lillard to the Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, an unprotected 2029 first-round selection from Milwaukee, and 2028 and 2030 rights were traded to Portland. However, the team may flip Holiday in another deal. The Suns acquired Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.

When Lillard requested a trade from Portland in early July, he said Miami was his top choice. For most of the offseason, the two teams were linked, but no deal was imminent.

Lillard didn’t have a no-trade clause, so the Blazers never had to move him to the Heat. Instead, he joins another Eastern Conference contender and may hinder Miami’s chances of reaching the NBA Finals again.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo are one of the NBA’s most dangerous duos. The floor general will easily share the оffensive load and set up Antetokounmpo.

Lillard’s arrival should also help Milwaukee retain Antetokounmpo, who declared this offseason that he won’t sign a contract extension unless he’s confident in the team’s capacity to win a championship each year.