Damian Lillard: Guard traded from Portland Trail Blazers to Milwaukee Bucks to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo

Seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard is being traded by Portland to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee in a deal that ends a three-month saga surrounding his future.

Lillard goes from the Path Blazers to the Bucks in a three-team deal that sends Jrue Vacation from the Bucks to Portland, Deandre Ayton from Phoenix to Portland and Jusuf Nurkic from the Blazers to the Suns.

The acquisition of Lillard comes after Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, stated he needed to see how dedicated the Bucks are towards profitable one other championship earlier than deciding whether or not to signal a long-term deal to remain in Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo’s contract runs by way of the 2024-25 season, with a participant choice for 2025-26.

Lillard, 33, has performed his whole 11-year profession with Portland, which chosen him with the sixth general decide of the 2012 NBA Draft.

He averaged a franchise-record 32.2 factors per sport in 2022-23, the third-highest clip within the league, however Portland completed 33-49 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.

Named one of many NBA’s 75 biggest gamers of all-time in 2021, Lillard gained Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2012-13 and has made All-NBA groups seven occasions.

He’s Portland’s profession chief in factors (19,376) and 3-point area objectives (2,387).

His series-winning shot to remove Oklahoma Metropolis from the 2019 NBA playoffs – a step-back three-pointer over Paul George from almost 40 toes as time expired – is among the iconic postseason moments in not simply Portland historical past however NBA historical past as nicely.