The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard in a massive three-time trade with the Portland Trailblazers and Phoenix Suns. As part of the trade, the Bucks sent Jrue Holiday to Portland and Grayson Allen to Phoenix. In addition, the Blazers also get the Bucks’ 2029 first round draft pick and two picks swaps.
As excited as Bucks fans are for the trade, and rightly so, it did not take long for a certain NBA star to complain about it on social media. Miami Heat, and former Marquette, shooting guard Jimmy Butler posted a short video calling on the NBA to open an investigation for tampering.
Miami Heat Star Jimmy Butler Accuses the Milwaukee Bucks of Tampering to Get Damian Lillard
For months, it was reported that Lillard was only interested in playing for one team: the Heat. However, Miami’s front office, led by the legendary Pat Riley, was not willing to meet Portland’s asking price. Perhaps due to Lillard’s determination to play for just Miami, the Heat did not want to part with the necessary pieces that the Blazers wanted.
After Milwaukee was able to facilitate a three team trade that got Portland the pieces they wanted, Butler took to social media to post this video:
“Yo NBA man, y’all need to look into the Bucks for tampering… Y’all didn’t hear it from me, but I heard it from somebody.”
Jimmy Butler speaks on Damian Lillard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks
(via @JimmyButler / IG)pic.twitter.com/fDBMSEHN3h
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 27, 2023
It is hard to see where Butler is coming from on this. The Bucks were punished for tampering back in 2020 during the ill-fated attempt to get Bogdon Bogdanovic. That trade attempt, though, came at the start of the NBA league year when trades could happen. The Bucks did begin negotiations before they were allowed to.
As a result, Bogdanovic was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
In this case, though, Milwaukee was well within their rights to coordinate a trade between themselves, the Blazers, and the Suns.
What Will the Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup Look Like with Damian Lillard?
It is easy to see, however, why Butler may be feeling salty about the trade. The Bucks may have just shot to the top of NBA title favorites with their trade for Lillard.
The Bucks did have to send away two of their starters in Holiday in Allen, which means there will be a bit of a shift in their lineup. Their starting lineup could look like:
- Damian Lillard
- Malik Beasley
- Khris Middleton
- Giannis Antetkounmpo
- Brook Lopez
Instead of Beasley, the Bucks could also start Pat Connaughton or MarJon Beauchamp. In any case, the shooting guard is not going to be a top scoring option in the Bucks’ lineup. That will be Giannis, Lillard, and then Middleton.
Milwaukee also still boasts Bobby Portis and Jae Crowder as top front court options off of their bench.
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