Bucks Zone

Report calls the Damian Lillard acquisition a risk the Milwaukee Bucks had to make

It's a bold move but was acquiring Damian Lillard really worth it?

Jonas Panerio

© Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Even if the Milwaukee Bucks stood pat on their championship-winning core, they still would have been considered one of the favorites to win it all. However, with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo putting the franchise on notice regarding his upcoming contract situation a few years from now, the Bucks opted to make a move to mitigate any potential risk.

The Bucks traded for All-Star point guard Damian Lillard a few weeks ago, sending All-Star guard Jrue Holiday and two-way guard Grayson Allen in a three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns. According to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, “This was a risk Milwaukee had to take.”

Pressure on the front office

With Antetokounmpo making it clear that he was willing to take his talents elsewhere if he felt that the team wasn't going all-in to win a championship, Milwaukee had no choice but to make a splash.

“Antetokounmpo made it very clear this offseason that he wasn't re-signing with the Bucks if certain needs were not met, putting an immense amount of pressure on Milwaukee now that the two-time MVP is extension-eligible,” Swartz wrote.

“Trading for a seven-time All-NBA point guard coming off the best season of his career (32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 56.4 effective field goal percentage) now gives Antetokounmpo the most talented player he's ever shared the floor with while also making sure the Miami Heat didn't land Lillard instead.”

Risks to it

There are, of course, risks to Milwaukee’s big move. Obviously, trading away two of the team’s best perimeter defenders in exchange for someone who’s not known for his defensive prowess could backfire if Lillard’s offensive production does not make up for it.

“Antetokounmpo and Holiday were already the second-best duo in the NBA, with Milwaukee topping opponents by 14.3 points per 100 possessions whenever the two shared the floor together last season. Lillard is more talented than Holiday in a vacuum, but he's a worse defender whose chemistry with Antetokounmpo will need to be established,” Swartz explained.

In the long run, though, acquiring Lillard shows Giannis how committed the franchise is to surround him with enough talent to win multiple NBA titles. This may lessen the possibility of Giannis bolting from the Bucks when he can become a free agent in the summer of 2025.

Published
Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO