The Bucks’ rough opening has only made Portland’s Damian Lillard deal look better.
Milwaukee is sitting at 1-6, and Wednesday’s road game against the Boston Celtics could easily push that to 1-7. That kind of stumble was always going to be part of life after Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Trail Blazers are positioned to cash in on it.
Lillard is back in Portland after only two seasons in Milwaukee, and even he has acknowledged that the move away from the Bucks helped set the Blazers up to build the team he’s always wanted in Portland. The real payoff for Portland may still be ahead, too, because the most valuable pieces in the deal are the future draft picks that keep gaining value.
Portland landed Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick via Milwaukee, and 2028 and 2030 first-round pick swaps via Milwaukee in the three-team deal that also included the Phoenix Suns. On paper, that was already a strong haul. In practice, it has become even better as Milwaukee’s post-Giannis path gets messier.
The Bucks’ attempt to squeeze one more title run out of the Giannis-Lillard pairing never really clicked. Injuries played a part, and the result was consecutive first-round playoff exits. Milwaukee then kept making aggressive moves to keep Antetokounmpo happy, but those decisions only deepened the problem and, ultimately, pushed him further out the door.
One example was the Kyle Kuzma deal with the Washington Wizards. The bigger swing, though, was waiving and stretching Lillard to create room to sign Myles Turner. That move was never going to solve everything for a roster in trouble, and it left Milwaukee with a dead cap hit of about $22.6 million annually after stretching Lillard’s remaining $113 million over five years.
Even with the Bucks’ issues, there are some young pieces there to start a rebuild, whether it’s Brayden Burries, Kel’el Ware, Ryan Rollins, Kasparas Jakucionis, or Nate Ament. But there isn’t a true star in that group, and Ament looks like a longer-term project. That matters for Portland, because these picks are expected to land before Milwaukee is anywhere close to winning again.
The flattened lottery odds do take a little shine off those assets, but they still rank among the league’s most valuable. If they hit, they could be the kind of draft capital that helps push Portland into contender territory.
The Blazers and Bucks are heading in opposite directions right now, though Portland still looks like a team that needs one or two more pieces to join the Western Conference’s top tier with teams like the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. Joe Cronin had the chance to use some of Milwaukee’s draft capital to make a bigger splash this offseason, but he added star power in Ja Morant without giving up any of those picks.
That’s the part that makes this trade look even stronger for Portland. The Blazers have kept building without touching the Bucks’ draft haul, and with Milwaukee struggling, the deal is starting to look like the one that could carry Portland over the top.
In Other News...
Blazers Fans May Not Like How Close This Suns Rematch Looks
The Trail Blazers are heading into their rematch with the Suns in a familiar spot for an early-season contender: dealing with injury absences while still trying to keep the momentum rolling. Portland is expected to be without key players Ja Morant and Shaedon Sharpe, which makes the matchup a little trickier on paper, even as the Blazers have opened the season strong and remain the models pick to win.
For fans, the interesting part is how tight this one looks against the betting market. The simulation projections point toward Portland, but they also suggest a game that could stay close enough to test whether the Blazers can keep turning solid starts into actual results. With the Suns back on the schedule, the margin for error feels slim, and the numbers are leaving just enough room for a tense finish. [Read more 🡒]
Sidy Cissoko Is Quietly Solving A Blazers Problem Joe Cronin Bet On
Joe Cronins decision to stand pat on the wing after the offseason has looked a little less risky with each passing game. The Trail Blazers did not go out and chase a replacement for the players they lost, trusting the roster already in place, and Sidy Cissoko has started to look like the kind of internal answer that can make that bet work. The 22-year-old has carved out a real role off the bench, bringing a steadier offensive touch and the kind of defensive versatility Portland can use in a rotation that still has some sorting out to do.
Through the first six games, Cissoko has given the Blazers something beyond a temporary hot stretch. His shooting has improved, his activity on the other end has fit what the team needs, and the minutes he is getting do not feel accidental. Portland is intentionally making room for him, which says plenty about how the staff views his place in the rotation and how much confidence there is that this two-way impact can hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Deni Avdija Already Faced One Big Blazers Concern After Ja Morant Trade
Deni Avdija did not wait long to address the biggest question hanging over his place in Portland after the Ja Morant trade. With the Blazers suddenly built around two All-Star guards, Avdija went straight to head coach Micah Nori looking for clarity on how his role would fit into the new setup, a fair concern for a player who has become an important part of the rotation.
Nori laid out how Avdijas chances to contribute could actually grow even in a backcourt crowded with star power, and the early returns have backed that up. Avdija has kept scoring efficiently to start the season, while teammates Damian Lillard and Morant have both spoken positively about what he brings, giving Portland at least one encouraging sign as it sorts through the ripple effects of the trade. [Read more 🡒]