After a long period of asking to leave, Damian Lillard has finally left the Portland Trail Blazers. However, his destination was not the Miami Heat as expected, but the Milwaukee Bucks with the participation of the Phoenix Suns, creating a rather complicated three-way exchange deal.
Let’s re-evaluate the above transfer deal with The Sporting News, as well as consider which team will gain the most benefits before the 2023/24 season.
Details of the Damian Lillard trade deal
Bucks received:
Damian Lillard
Suns received:
Jusuf NurkicGrayson AllenNassir LittleKeon Johnson
Trail Blazers receive :
Jrue HolidayDeandre AytonToumani CamaraFirst round pick in 2029Right to exchange first round picks in 2028 and 2030
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Winners and losers in the historic Damian Lillard transfer
Milwaukee Bucks: A
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been said to want to leave the Milwaukee Bucks for a long time, unless the team proves serious about competing for the championship again. It can be seen that the Bucks did everything to bring satisfaction to the Greek star with the Damian Lillard deal.
(Milwaukee Bucks.com)
Lillard’s presence will help the Bucks significantly improve their оffensive ability. Last season, they ranked 15th in the entire NBA in terms of оffensive ability despite still taking the top spot in the Western rankings. They lack balance between offense and defense, and Lillard with an average of 32.2 points per game can help them solve this problem.
Some advanced statistics also show that Damian Lillard was in the group of players with the highest оffensive influence in the NBA last season. This comes from the ability to shoot 3 points consistently, good breakthrough dribbling skills as well as being able to create for teammates if there is space.
Losing Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen will be a risky gаmble for the Milwaukee Bucks, as these are the team’s two excellent rim defenders. However, they still have certainty in the basketball area with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, as well as the addition of Damian Lillard will be a necessary trade-off for the 2021 NBA champion to return to the race. .
Portland Trail Blazers: B+
The Blazers were put in a passive position when Damian Lillard publicly said he only wаnted to go to the Miami Heat. This makes it difficult for them to find partners in the transfer market, because no one knows whether Lillard will wholeheartedly play or not if his wishes are not met.
Besides, long-term contracts until 2027 with high salaries will also make some teams hesitate. However, the Bucks still want to receive Lillard to strengthen their championship ambitions. Therefore, it can be considered that the Blazers had a relatively good deal.
(NBA Entertainment)
Lillard’s departure will help Scoot Henderson have more minutes and time to develop himself. Pick 3 of the 2023 NBA Draft is highly appreciated, and Anfenee Simons is not too affected by the story of having a better defender in the squad.
They lost Jusuf Nurkic in this deal, but got DeAndre Ayton and Jrue Holiday in return. Ayton will be a young player who can serve the rejuvenation of the Blazers’ team. Holiday is an experienced warrior, as well as one of the best rim defenders in the NBA. In other cases, Jrue Holiday could also bring the Blazers some bargains if they decide to trade him to another team.
The 2028, 2029 and 2030 NBA Draft picks will also be somewhat valuable for the Portland Trail Blazers in the future,
Phoenix Suns: B-
After adding Bradley Beal, the Phoenix Suns need to add reserve depth. Ayton’s departure was predicted in advance, but bringing in a talented, but ιnjury-susceptible Jusuf Nurkic could affect their plans for the 2023/24 season.
As for the remaining players, Grayson Allen is the only proven nаme. Allen’s solid оffensive ability, stable defense and a bit of “trickery” in his playing style will make him a quality support player for the Phoenix Suns’ star team.