The Milwaukee Bucks are shockingly the winners of the Damian Lillard sweepstakes.
While all of the attention and focus was on the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat, the Bucks trade for the seven-time All-Star.
The Bucks now have a superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard:
Giannis and Lillard together with the Bucks pic.twitter.com/YTgeXEfiip
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 27, 2023
The Bucks who were already contenders in the East, arguably become the best team in the conference after this trade.
The Toronto Raptors were said to be the frontrunners entering this week, but come up empty handed.
Raptors fans thought the Raptors had traded for Damian Lillard for a split second, when Shams Charania put out a post on X saying the Raptors traded for Lillard before ultimately deleting it:
Shams will never be forgiven pic.twitter.com/8bQgYPDeXN
— Vivek Jacob (@vivekmjacob) September 27, 2023
The mistake from Shams gave Raptors fans joy for a split second.
The full details of the trade are as follows:
FULL TRADE DETAILS:
Bucks receive:
Damian LillardBlazers receive:
Jrue Holiday
Deandre Ayton
Toumani Camara,
2029 1st-round pick
2 pick swaps.Suns receive:
Jusuf Nurkic
Grayson Allen
Nassir Little
Keon JohnsonWOW! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/941dK0Rl6A
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 27, 2023
When looking at this trade, it’s hard to believe that the Raptors couldn’t offer something better.
What’s next for the Raptors?
The Raptors hesitancy to strike a big deal now leaves this franchise with many question marks moving forward. The Raptors haven’t made a win now move and their roster as constructed still isn’t good enough to contend in the East, especially after the Bucks making this trade.
Also, Gary Trent Jr., Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are all set to become unrestricted free agents after this season. The Raptors have been in the middle for long enough and still refuse to pick a direction. However, after the Raptors lose yet another bidding war for a superstar, Toronto might have no other choice but to embrace a rebuild. We’ll see what happens.
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