The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade before the start of the 2023-2024 season. Milwaukee did not get past the first-round in either season.
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Apr 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) go back and forth with each other during a time out during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The pairing of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo over the last two seasons has not gone as planned. There is a chance that the Bucks trade both of them this offseason and start a massive rebuild. However, there is a world that they will also keep Antetokounmpo in the offseason, but trade away Lillard to a different team this offseason.
Bleacher Report Creates Three-Team Mock Trade That Would Send Milwaukee Bucks Guard Damian Lillard To the Phoenix Suns
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Apr 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) in the first half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale created five potential mock trades that could shake up things for certain NBA teams this offseason. In one of his mock trades, he has a three-team trade being made between the Bucks, the Phoenix Suns, and the Utah Jazz.
He has the Suns receiving Lillard, Milwaukee’s 2031 first-round pick, and Milwaukee’s 2031 second-round pick. Favale has the Bucks acquiring guard Bradley Beal from the Suns. The Jazz would acquire Chris Livingston and a 2026 second-round pick (less favorable of Denver and Golden State via Phoenix).
Favale said about the possibility of this three-team trade this offseason,
“Trading for Lillard when he may not play next season after suffering a torn left Achilles wouldn’t help the Suns compete in 2025-26. That’s the point.
After regaining control of their 2026 first-rounder (and 2027 first) in the previous deal, they could treat next season as a gap year. Then, in this hypothetical scenario, they would enter 2026-27 with a core of Booker, Lillard on an expiring contract, Jabari Smith Jr., whomever they take at No. 10 this June and another higher first-round pick. They would also have their own 2027 first-rounder, as well as the Bucks’ in 2031. What the Suns do from there is up to them.
The Bucks shouldn’t make this deal in a vacuum. Beal is owed $110.8 million over the next two years—a contract that is decidedly underwater. But subbing out Lillard for him would show Giannis Antetokounmpo that they aren’t belly-flopping into a gap year without any purpose.
Make no mistake, it would be a desperation move. If it’s enough to buy more time with Giannis, though, it’s worth the risk. Especially when the Eastern Conference figures to be wide-open next year following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury.
Whether Beal would waive his no-trade clause to play in Milwaukee is debatable.”
It would make no sense for the Suns to potentially acquire Lillard in a trade because of his torn Achilles. He can very well miss most of the season because of the injury. It also wouldn’t make sense for them because Kevin Durant could also be traded this offseason for Phoenix to potentially the Houston Rockets.
The Bucks acquiring Beal in a trade would be an interesting thing. In 53 games played with Phoenix during the 2024-2025 season, he averaged 17.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, and shot 49.7% from the field. Beal and Antetokounmpo could potentially be a better fit together than Lillard was.
However, this would be a very risky trade for the Bucks to make. However, with the way things are going on in the NBA, there is a chance that a championship window could open once again for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo could decide to stay for another year and make a trade like this to shake things up on the roster a little bit.
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