Upon voicing his wish to be moved from the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard aimed to join the Miami Heat. However, his aspiration was not fulfilled.
In a transaction involving three teams including the Phoenix Suns, Lillard was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks. This action teams him up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and immediately positions the Bucks as favorites in the Eastern Conference for the forthcoming season.
The trade resulted in the Suns obtaining Jusuf Nurkić, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson, while the Trail Blazers acquired Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and Jrue Holiday.
Jimmy Butler, a standout player for the Heat, voiced discontent with the trade and shared a video calling for an NBA investigation into potential tampering by the Bucks.
“Hey, NBA. Man, you need to investigate the Bucks for tampering,” Butler remarked on his Instagram story. “I’m just putting it out there. You didn’t hear it from me, but I received word from someone [inaudible].”
Considering Butler’s light-hearted demeanor, it remains uncertain if he was earnest in his plea for an investigation into tampering. This comes subsequent to the trade being reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Heat were initially seen as the prime contenders to secure Lillard’s services due to his preferences, but circumstances did not align in their favor. Instead, Lillard now finds himself with the Bucks, a team that the Heat ousted in the first round of the previous year’s playoffs.
The Bucks are set to commence their season on October 26 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
