For ESPN, insider Adrian Wojnarowski recounts the last hours of the Damian Lillard “trade”, and in particular the secret discussions between the Bucks and the Blazers, started since July! In Milwaukee, GM Joe Cronin is warned that at the slightest leak, they will abandon discussions. To avoid any internal problems, they even ask that their name not appear if the exchange fails.
At the same time, in Portland, and even before Damian Lillard’s transfer request, there was discussion of the exchange between Deandre Ayton and Jusuf Nurkic.
The Suns learn that the “swap” will be included in the exchange of the Blazers point guard, and that they will recover Nassir Little and Keon Johnson. But they are kept out of the discussions, and therefore do not know that the Bucks are the third team. They will only learn it that day, a few minutes before everyone else.
“You will love the mystery player. Believe me “
At the request of Jon Horst, his Milwaukee counterpart, Joe Cronin just asks them to trust him, and that they will not be disappointed by the player they are going to recover.
” Trust me. You will love the mystery player. Believe me “ assures Joe Cronin to Josh Bartelstein, the president of the Suns. He still releases two important pieces of information: the player’s position and his salary. The Suns do their little investigation, and they deduce that it will be Grayson Allen or Victor Oladipo. Clearly, in Phoenix, we know that Damian Lillard will join Milwaukee or Oklahoma City.
It was Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. that the Blazers confirmed to the Suns that it would be Grayson Allen since they had just reached an agreement with the Bucks.
In Phoenix, the leaders are enthusiastic, and they give their agreement for the arrival of the back of the Bucks. Joe Cronin announces it in Milwaukee. The agents are notified, then the players. The rest, we know it.
