The clock is ticking loudly in Milwaukee. After crashing out in just five games to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 Playoffs, the Bucks are facing their most pivotal summer since Giannis Antetokounmpo first rose to MVP status. Giannis was spectacular because, of course, he was, but his greatness is being wasted early in these playoffs, and sources say he’s already held sit-down meetings with the front office to “discuss the direction” of the franchise.
Translation: fix this, or risk losing me next. At the center of the Bucks’ dilemma? Damian Lillard. The 34-year-old made the 2025 All-Star team, averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists this season, but his Milwaukee tenure has been turbulent.
There were whispers all season long that Lillard wasn’t thrilled with life in a small market, and things turned disastrous when he suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs. Now facing a long rehab, Lillard is aiming for a comeback, but it might not be in a Bucks jersey.
If Milwaukee wants to build a younger, deeper roster around Giannis and get back to the top of the East, moving Lillard while he still holds value might be their only play. Lillard was supposed to be the final piece of Milwaukee’s championship puzzle, but reality has hit hard: the roster is aging, the defense has slipped, and they need fresh legs and future assets to keep Giannis locked in long-term.
With that in mind, we’ve identified three trade packages that could give the Bucks the reset they need while still respecting Lillard’s stature as a superstar. Let’s dive in.
Miami Heat
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2025 First-Round Pick (GSW), 2031 First-Round Pick (MIA)
If there’s a franchise that knows how to reinvent itself through bold moves, it’s Pat Riley’s Miami Heat. After getting swept by the Cavs and watching Jimmy Butler’s era end with a whimper, Miami is desperate for a new face of the franchise.
Damian Lillard, even coming off an Achilles tear, brings the Heat the scoring punch and star power they crave. Lillard still averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists this season before the injury and made the All-Star team; he’s still respected as an elite offensive engine.
And let’s not forget: Miami was Lillard’s original preferred destination before landing in Milwaukee. This could finally be the match that was supposed to happen last summer.
For Milwaukee, this is about depth, flexibility, and appeasing Giannis with playable pieces around him. Andrew Wiggins is no longer the 2022 NBA Finals MVP-caliber two-way star, but he’s still a useful 3-and-D wing averaging 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds this season, and could thrive in a lower-pressure setting.
Terry Rozier, who put up 10.6 points per game this year, gives them a replacement scoring guard while Lillard recovers. Jaime Jaquez Jr., meanwhile, is the real gem: the 24-year-old has shown flashes of being a tough, versatile wing and fits perfectly with Milwaukee’s desire to get younger (8.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG).
Two first-round picks sweeten the pot, especially with that 2031 pick being deep in the future when Miami’s window might be closed. From a narrative and roster-building perspective, this feels like a win-win. Lillard gets to finally suit up in South Beach, and the Bucks get multiple rotation-ready pieces to balance their top-heavy roster.
Brooklyn Nets
Proposed Trade Details
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Damian Lillard
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Cameron Johnson, Nicolas Claxton, Ziaire Williams (Sign-and-Trade), 2026 First-Round Pick (BKN), 2030 First-Round Pick (BKN)
This is the “get younger and switchier” option for Milwaukee, and honestly, it might be their smartest path forward. Cameron Johnson is still just 29 and averaged 18.8 points on 39.0% shooting from three this season. He gives Milwaukee a sharpshooting forward who fits seamlessly next to Giannis.
Nicolas Claxton, meanwhile, is one of the league’s most underrated defensive bigs, averaging 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in 2024-25. He’s switchable, rim-protecting, and exactly the kind of modern center Milwaukee lacks now that Brook Lopez is deep into his twilight years.
Ziaire Williams, while more of a flyer, is still only 23 and showed flashes of being a two-way wing with Memphis before injuries slowed him. Brooklyn’s inclusion of two first-round picks gives Milwaukee the kind of future draft capital they’d need to reshape around Giannis and potentially swing another big trade down the line.
For the Nets, this is their swing-for-the-fences moment. After missing the playoffs and watching Cam Thomas stagnate as the No. 1 option, pairing him with a healthy Lillard gives them the star juice they’ve been missing. The Nets have been looking for a franchise player, and this deal makes them relevant again.
Orlando Magic
Proposed Trade Details
Orlando Magic Receive: Damian Lillard
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2026 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2025 Second-Round Pick (ORL), 2026 Second-Round Pick (ORL)
Orlando is a team on the rise as they just won 41 games despite major injury problems and made the playoffs behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. But what they’re missing is a real shot-creating guard who can win in the postseason.
Enter Damian Lillard, whose elite pull-up shooting and late-game heroics would give the Magic the closer they desperately need. Lillard’s pairing with Banchero and Wagner could be electric, giving Orlando a legitimate Big Three to compete in the East. Yes, the Achilles injury is a concern, but Orlando’s young core is deep enough to give Lillard time to recover and gradually integrate.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, would get back an ideal piece in Jalen Suggs, who has finally emerged as an elite defensive guard this season. Suggs averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 2024-25 while locking up opposing guards on a nightly basis, exactly the kind of gritty, two-way player the Bucks love.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a proven 3-and-D veteran and two-time NBA champion, brings playoff experience and floor spacing (career 36.7% 3-point shooter). Add in two first-round picks and two seconds, and Milwaukee would suddenly have a treasure chest of assets while still staying competitive.
This trade would mark a clear pivot for the Bucks: out with the aging stars, in with tough, defense-first guards and more shooting around Giannis. For Orlando, this is their aggressive win-now play. They’d be betting that Lillard’s injury doesn’t derail his elite shot-making and that his presence elevates Banchero and Wagner to new heights. It’s risky, but the payoff could be a deep playoff run in 2026.
