From the beginning of the Damian Lillard trade saga, the Heat appeared to be the frontrunner based on myriad rumors and reports. But when it came to light that the reported initial asking price from the Blazers was Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick, it’s less surprising that Miami didn’t emerge as the team to win the Lillard sweepstakes.
Instead, it was the Bucks, a team rarely mentioned as a potential threat to step into the mix for Lillard, who got a deal done on Wednesday, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. It was a three-team trade including the Suns, which included Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and pick swaps in ’28 and ’30 going to Portland. In exchange, the Bucks received Lillard, while the Suns added Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
Alonzo Adams/USA TODAY Sports
