On Wednesday, the Damian Lillard sweepstakes finally came to an end, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers agreeing to a three-way trade.
It seems as though Giannis Antetokounmpo really motivated the Bucks brass to make something happen after threatening to leave the team if he doesn’t see the same kind of championship mindset in the locker room in Milwaukee.
Along with pushing the Bucks to make a blockbuster trade in order to shake things up for the franchise and the league, Milwaukee acquiring Lillard from the Blazers has impacted the title odds for the 2023-24 NBA season, according to Caesars Sportsbook via Hoop Central.
Bucks are now title favorites, per @CaesarsSports. pic.twitter.com/Gm9CTBklhw
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 27, 2023
After Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets wiped the floor with the competition during the NBA playoffs in order to win their first title in franchise history, the consensus around the league has been that this team would be the team to beat for years to come.
Well, the Bucks appear to have changed that narrative, with the pairing of Lillard and Antetokounmpo being a game-changer, which will make things that much more interesting.
The Bucks are the new team to beat in the NBA, with the Nuggets not far behind, followed by the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors.
The interesting part of this is all of these teams mentioned have made blockbuster moves this summer to stay in contention, which will make for an interesting and exciting 2023-24 campaign, with the best teams in the league putting it all on the line to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
NEXT: Nick Wright Sets Clear Expectations For The Bucks In Upcoming Season
