We will still have to wait a little before seeing the first baskets and the first dribbles of Damian Lillard in the Bucks jersey. A jersey by default since the All-Star leader wanted to join the Heat. Now that the trade with Milwaukee is official, Lillard can admit that he really wanted to join Miami.
“The fact that I wanted to go to Miami was no secret when I asked to be traded” recognizes Milwaukee’s new leader. “When we started to discuss it, I was told that we couldn’t
not build the team I wanted in Portland, and that they were going to help me join the team of my choice. And it was Miami. »
Ultimately, the Heat’s offer centered around Tyler Herro does not interest the Blazers, and it’s an impasse. Worse, the NBA got involved and issued a warning to Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, suspected of putting pressure on interested franchises. We must therefore change strategy, and the avenues are multiplying. We talk about Boston, Toronto then… Milwaukee.
He didn’t expect it to happen
“14 days ago, my agent called me to ask me what I thought about Milwaukee, because he wasn’t sure if it would happen with Miami. He found that Milwaukee was the best alternative in terms of basketball” says Lillard. “I told him it suited me and that I loved Giannis. He told me that was all he wanted to know.”
Goodwin is approaching the Blazers, who already have a deal in place with the Suns. But at the request of the Blazers, everything must remain secret. At the slightest leak, the deal will be canceled. This is why Lillard is kept out of the discussions, and he explains that he was ready to resume training with his teammates in Portland.
“The only time we talked about it again was when I was told I was being traded to Milwaukee.” confirms the Olympic champion. “I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t think it was going to happen. Although I wasn’t too surprised, I didn’t expect it. »
