Ground-shattering news hit the NBA on Wednesday when the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal.
The move will undoubtedly make the Bucks the favorites to win the world championship right away, especially since Lillard is joining a nucleus that already won it all in 2021.
While Lillard was adamant about being sent to the Miami Heat, there were reports that the Toronto Raptors had emerged as the frontrunners to land Lillard this week.
However, via NBACentral, the Raptors were unwilling to give up wing OG Anunoby for the seven-time All-Star.
Toronto simply would not dangle OG Anunoby for Damian Lillard, per @TheTorontoSun pic.twitter.com/qjdf5eLacg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 27, 2023
Anunoby would’ve been a fine young player for the rebuilding Blazers, and he would’ve fit their timeline along with Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, and incoming rookie Scoot Henderson.
The 6-foot-7 forward is 25 years of age and averaged 16.8 points a game last season while leading the NBA in steals.
Perhaps Lillard wouldn’t have been happy in Toronto, as a core of him, Pascal Siakam, and young stud Scottie Barnes wouldn’t have been enough to contend for the NBA title, at least not right away.
In Milwaukee, Lillard will have the deck stacked in his favor, and he will have Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time regular-season MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year, by his side.
During 11 seasons in Portland, Lillard never played with someone anywhere nearly as great as Antetokounmpo — the only All-Star he has played with thus far was LaMarcus Aldridge during his first two pro seasons.
For the Raptors, their rebuilding process will continue, and one has to wonder if they will end up trading Siakam and starting almost all over again.
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