The end result of Damian Lillard ending up in Milwaukee rather than Miami has been a shock to many, especially since Lillard made it extremely evident that he wanted to play for the Heat. But despite all the drama and the trade rumors, Lillard is a Milwaukee Buck.
The Bucks’ Perspective on the Damian Lillard Trade
A Trade With Two Sides: The Positive Side of the Lillard Deal
The opportunity that lies in front of Lillard with his new team, is what he has been chasing his whole career while in Portland.
An NBA title.
This is arguably the best chance Lillard has had in his 11-year career at accomplishing this feat.
The addition of Lillard will skyrocket the ceiling of the Bucks offense to a drastic degree. He will make their offense more unpredictable and harder to guard.
Lillard has one of the most dynamic games in the league. He is able to be effective with his handles in getting to the paint, while also making teams pay from deep, and then even deeper.
Last year, Lillard had the third-highest percentage in the league from 30+ feet, at 32.5%, while also shooting the most threes from this distance at 117.
Pairing this game up with Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s bulldozing playstyle makes this a pick-your-poison type of offense. Either try to stop Antetokounmpo getting to the paint, or commit to stopping Lillard behind the perimeter.
Both of these players have the ability to take over a game on any given night. And so does another one of their teammates, three-time All Star Khris Middleton. This all-star trio of Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Lillard will be one of the hardest offenses to guard going into next season, and between the three of them and their other teammates, their offensive rating should remain at the top of the NBA.
A Trade With Two Sides: The Negative Side of the Lillard Deal
There is one way this thing could end up going all wrong: if the Bucks don’t win a championship.
This feels like an all-in chip shove to the middle-of-the-table move from the organization. They know they have the talent to win now, and they are doing everything they can do to capitalize on it. And with a big move like this comes a big realization.
If the Bucks don’t win a championship soon, “The Greek Freak” might want to move to a new organization.
When asked if he believes Antetokounmpo’s next contract will be with Milwaukee or somewhere else, this is how NBA insider Brian Windhorst responded:
“If I had to predict I would say probably elsewhere. And the reason is because the league is not designed to support one team contending at the highest level for this long.”
Antetokounmpo’s contract ends at the end of this season, 2023-2024 season, with a player option for 2025-2026. He has expressed that he is open to moving to other teams before, and he did so after he signed his last deal with the Bucks in 2020.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, the Bucks hit a home run in getting Lillard, and it is clear they are doing everything they can to win a championship. But, if it all somehow goes wrong, Antetokounmpo parting ways with the organization may not be out of the cards.
