Bucks trade for Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday heads to Portland

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - The Milwaukee Bucks announced on Wednesday, Sept. 27, that they have officially traded for All NBA guard, Damian Lillard.

It is a three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.

“Damian Lillard is an elite player in our league and someone we’ve long been fans of. These opportunities are rare and hard to measure and execute. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity for our community and team, and beyond excited to welcome Damian and his family to the Milwaukee Bucks,” said Bucks general manager Jon Horst in Bucks official team release.

“His character, competitiveness, talent and experience complement our group and gives us the best chance to win at the very highest level as we create new memories together.”

The Bucks acquire Lillard in the deal and send out Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, a 2029 first round pick and pick swap rights to the Blazers and Suns. 

The full details of the trade are below. 

A two-time all-star and five-time all-defensive selection, the 33-year old Holiday has played three seasons for the Bucks after being traded to the team in November of 2020. A key piece of the Bucks NBA championship in 2021, Holiday averaged 18.5 points per game and 6.8 assists per game during his three seasons with the Bucks.

Holiday is a three-time winner of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award three times in his career, including back-to-back during his time in Milwaukee. Holiday also is known for his efforts in the community and has been a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award.

"These are the hardest, most human moments of this business. Jrue was unmatched in his commitment to the Bucks and the Greater Milwaukee community,” said Horst in Bucks team release.

“He’s truly a champion on and off the court, and we are all thankful for what he and his family have given to our team and city. He and his wife Lauren were steadfast in their efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people. Their leadership and dedication to the community has left an indelible mark and inspired the Bucks organization for years to come.”

Lillard has also won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award in 2020-21.

He is a seven-time all-star, seven-time all-NBA player, and a member of the NBA 75th anniversary team, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, for the some of the best players in league history.

The 33-year old Lillard posted on the X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, he's "Excited" for his next chapter.

Lillard is coming off the highest scoring season of his career at 32.2 points a game and 7.3 assists per contest. He is eighth among active players in the league in career points and sixth all-time in career 3-pointers made. His unlimited range will provide a prolific two-man game with Giannis on the court.

Grayson Allen played the past two seasons with Milwaukee including a career-high 11.1 points in 2021-22. Allen also responded to the tweet on X, after planning to change his number entering the season. 

“We are grateful to Grayson for his many contributions to the Bucks,” Horst said in Bucks release. “He added to the winning culture in Milwaukee, and we wish him great success."

The Bucks did not respond with comment on the trade.