Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager Milt Newton recently provided insight into the high-profile trade that brought Damian Lillard to Milwaukee last summer.
Newton shared that the trade talks began when Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, approached the Bucks about the star guard’s interest in joining Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“At first, everyone thought Dame was going to Miami,” Newton explained, via HoopsHype.
However, Goodwin made it clear that Lillard prioritized winning and saw Milwaukee as a potential destination.
“When Aaron told us Dame wanted to play with Giannis and asked if we had interest, of course, we were intrigued,” Newton said.
The Bucks quickly engaged in discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers to explore the possibility of acquiring Lillard.
“When we started talking to Portland, they laid out what it would take to make the trade happen,” Newton noted.
While the asking price was steep, the Bucks were willing to part with key assets in exchange for a player of Lillard’s caliber.
“We were like, ‘Wow, that’s a lot,’ but we were getting one of the top 75 players in the history of the game,” Newton continued.
The trade, finalized in late September 2023, was part of a three-team deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Blazers and Grayson Allen to the Phoenix Suns.
In return, Milwaukee landed Lillard, adding a seven-time All-Star to a core already featuring Giannis and Khris Middleton.
Newton emphasized the Bucks’ belief in their new “Big Three” and their ability to compete at the highest level.
“We believe that with a healthy Giannis, Khris, and Dame, we will be an unbeatable team in the playoffs,” he added.
The acquisition of Lillard marked a new chapter for the Bucks, who were eager to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit in the previous postseason.
Newton expressed confidence in the team’s direction following the Lillard trade and the new coaching staff’s approach.
The Bucks’ front office viewed the trade as a necessary step to maximize their championship window with Giannis and Middleton in their primes.
However, despite these moves, Milwaukee’s season took a challenging turn as both Lillard and Antetokounmpo dealt with injuries late in the year.
Antetokounmpo missed time due to a calf injury, while Lillard also faced health setbacks that impacted the team’s playoff performance.
Milwaukee clinched its eighth consecutive playoff berth but was eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers for the second straight year.
