After working all summer long to join the Miami Heat, Damian Lillard finally got the call he’d been waiting for… except, it wasn’t exactly the spot he had in mind. Instead of a trade with the Heat, Lillard was sent to the Bucks instead to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo. And while maybe not his original choice, Dame has been optimistic from the jump about his new surroundings.
“My agent called me he said ‘[Trail Blazers] traded you to [the Bucks]’… My first thought was like everything I was leaving behind,” said Lillard. “This is where I’m supposed to be right here. It’s time to win.”
“This is where I’m supposed to be right here. It’s time to win.”
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After 11 years of giving his blood, sweat, and tears to the TrailBlazers franchise, Damian finally had enough and decided to cut ties this past summer. Initial reports indicated a quick process, but Joe Cronin elected to go for a different approach that ultimately paid off with the acquisitions of Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, and a 2029 1st-round pick. While this was a win for Portland, it remains to be seen how it will play out for Lillard, who is facing some massive pressure to perform alongside Giannis and Khris Middleton.
Damian Lillard Played Hardball In Portland
Thanks to various reports on the situation, we know that Lillard was dead-set on either joining the Heat or waiting things out to facilitate a trade later. Lillard, who had preached loyalty for over a decade, went so far as to abandon some of his principles in an effort to force his team’s hand. Besides coming out with a trade request, he only listed one team as a desirable landing spot and they had no assets to offer.
The question for Lillard now is, will he eventually do the same in Milwaukee? Since he had no problems turning on the franchise that drafted him, it’s possible that Lillard could ask out again next summer — or during the one after, in the offseason before he hits free agency. Lillard’s departure would obviously be a massive blow to the Bucks, who gave up a piece of their championship core in order to pull off a deal and it’s why this campaign is everything for the franchise as they look to secure their long-term future.
New-Look Bucks Have High Expectations
Even before they played a single game together, people knew that the new Bucks duo was primed for success. On paper, Giannis and Lillard make the perfect match as co-stars and the supporting talent of Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis (among others) is sure to lead Milwaukee to a top-three record in the East.
Even so, not everyone has the Bucks as their Eastern Conference favorites. After acquiring Jrue Holiday, the Boston Celtics are considered among the most stacked teams in basketball and they are sure to give Lillard and company a run for their money. The Bucks will need to be at their best to take them down, and their pre-season run together with Giannis and Lillard on the court was an encouraging sign of things to come. For the Bucks’ sake, though, they better not fumble the bag on this one, or they may never live it down.
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