Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis’ future and Dame’s fit
After Giannis Antetokounmpo put the Bucks – and the entire NBA – effectively on notice regarding his future, saying, “If there’s a better situation to win a championship, I have to take it,” Bucks GM Jon Horst acted swiftly to show his franchise superstar Milwaukee remains all-in on a championship push.
The consensus from talking to people around the league is that while the Bucks took a step back defensively, losing Holiday’s All-Defensive prowess, Lillard’s offensive firepower and Antetokounmpo’s desire to play with him and keeping him happy was too good to pass up.
With the Bucks acquiring Lillard, there’s a belief that the likelihood of Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks long-term has now increased, according to rival NBA front office members who spoke with HoopsHype.
“At the end of the day, the Bucks got better and improved their title chances, and I’m a humongous Holiday fan,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “Milwaukee’s perimeter defense got worse, but what Dame will give them offensively will be much better. I think Dame’s been overburdened with ball-handling in Portland, and so was Giannis in Milwaukee during critical playoff moments. Now, you have two guys who can handle the ball and create for themselves at pivotal times to win big games. Dame will get shots off the ball he hasn’t gotten before when he’s playing off Giannis.”
When asked by HoopsHype in late June how important a championship was to his legacy, Lillard replied, “I think it’s very important when you talk about how other people view me. Of course, people are going to say, ‘You don’t have a ring.’ You see how people talk to Charles Barkley, and he’s Charles Barkley. He was a great player. Of course it’s at the top of the list for me to win a championship. I don’t train and come into seasons thinking about anything more than wanting to win it this year.”
To help ease his transition, Lillard and former Blazers coach Terry Stotts will reunite in Milwaukee. The duo had a good working relationship in Portland and collaborated on schemes routinely as Stotts embraced Lillard as a leader and the team’s franchise player.
As Lillard heads to Milwaukee, he released the song “Farewell” on his Dame Dolla YouTube page a few hours after the reported trade. It included noteworthy lyrics amid his Portland exit.
I can never be replaced
They’ll know sooner than later.
An arrow pointed at who
Assumed it was greater.
Amazing what I get
In return for this labor.
I continue leaving trails,
But won’t be for the Blazers.
To the fans, man, I love you.
It’s unconditional.
Reasons for me leaving the city’s
Nothing typical,
So it’s imperative
Not to believe the narrative.
Just know that what I left
Is better than what I inherited.
I leave at peace
Because I know in the end,
That this is business.
Hope you remember all the things
You got to sit and witness.
In the future, man, I hope
We greet with hugs and kisses,
But you should know that they’re the ones
Who chose another mission
Finally, Milwaukee also traded Grayson Allen in the package. The Bucks believe they can replace his shooting with free-agent signing Malik Beasley and the return of a healthy Pat Connaughton. Milwaukee has several options for a new starting lineup now, including going with Connuaghton or Beasley, moving Khris Middleton to shooting guard and Jae Crowder to small forward, or having Lillard, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez start together.
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