Damian Lillard is headed to an Eastern Conference contender — just not that one.
The Blazers traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in a three-team deal that also includes the Phoenix Suns.
In return the Blazers are receiving Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick from the Bucks and the right to swap picks in 2028 and 2030.
The Suns are receiving Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
As with all trades, it cannot be finalized until NBA attorneys review the terms and approve the deal.
The blockbuster trade comes after months of rumors that Lilllard would only play for the Heat.
It is unclear if Lillard changed his mind and is willing to suit up for the Bucks alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee may have felt pressure to make this blockbuster deal in an attempt to appease Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP who hinted he’s unsure of his future with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo has two more years and a player option left on his current contract and is eligible for a three-year extension worth $173 million.
In August, the Greek superstar told The New York Times he will not be looking to sign a new contract this season — and emphasized the importance of sacrifice from the organization.
He followed that up earlier this month by questioning the team’s commitment to contending for an NBA title while on the “48 Minutes” Bleav podcast.
“As long as we play and we approach the game every single day the right way and we all sacrifice for a common goal, I can see myself being with the Milwaukee Bucks for the rest of my career,” the 28-year-old Antetokounmpo said.
“But the moment I feel like people are not committed as I am to get that golden thing in the back … I am a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly, I am a winner. I want to win.
“I have to do whatever it takes for me to win, and if there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien [championship trophy] I have to take that better situation.”
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, but Milwaukee lost to the Celtics in the East Finals the following year and were bounced from the playoffs last season with a first-round loss to the Heat.
Milwaukee fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after the team’s early postseason exit and replaced him with Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.
Lillard, 33, gives Griffin a dynamic scorer and playmaker who averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season and has averaged at least 24 points per game in each of the last eight seasons.
His career average of 25.2 points per game ranks 11th among all players in NBA history who have appeared in at least 500 games.
A seven-time All-Star in 11 NBA seasons, Lillard was a first-round pick by Portland in the 2012 NBA Draft, going No. 6 overall.
But after the Trail Blazers used the No. 3 pick overall in the 2023 NBA Draft on point guard Scoot Henderson, Lillard read the writing on the wall and asked for his ticket out of town.
Lillard will make almost $46 million this coming season and could make as much as $216 million over the next four years if he exercises his option for the 2026-27 season.