It was always intended for talk about a potential Damian Lillard deal to finish with one team, the Heat. It seemed (and was frequently reported) that Lillard and Jimmy Butler working together was almost a given given Lillard’s desire to play for Miami.
The Raptors and a few other teams were then mentioned in conversation, though. Then, apparently, out of nowhere, the Blazers and Bucks reached a three-team agreement to send Lillard to Milwaukee, as originally reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Blazers’ decision not to accept the Heat’s offer or bring in a third team to boost the contract was questioned throughout the summer. It’s also not shocking at all in light of the return package Portland managed to pull off, mostly due to its own persistence.
Comparing Bucks Trade Package for Lillard to Heat’s Reported Offer
According to Woj, the Bucks are trading Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Ayton, and Toumani Camara, an unprotected first-round pick in 2029, as well as picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030, to Portland.
And just for good measure, it seems the Blazers may be able to add even more assets, as Wojnarowski stated that the team is anticipated to “immediately engage contending teams on trade talks to move on Jrue Holiday.”
In exchange, the Blazers received Ayton, a new big man with high potential, a first-round selection, two pick swaps, and a guy they can probably use to add more components to a deal.
That and the offer from the Heat are simply apples and oranges.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat reportedly offered Tyler Herro, two first-round picks (2028 and 2030), and a salary similar to those of Kyle Lowry or Duncan Robinson. There were reportedly additional bids as well, but the majority of them centered on Nikola Jovic or a combination of that and/or those.
In the grand scheme of things, the Blazers effectively chose to trade two first-round picks to Milwaukee in instead of a further first-round pick from Miami. In addition, they substituted Ayton and Holiday for Herro, Lowry, and Robinson.
They were wise to wait because this was as near to a no-brainer action for Portland as you’ll see. It does not, however, alter the fact that Bucks supporters must now wait and see how Lillard will respond to the prospect of playing somewhere other than Miami. At the very least, the prospect of working alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo must be intriguing.