Giannis gets his Bucks wish after NBA trade demands with Damian Lillard move
The Milwaukee Bucks have listened to Giannis Antetokounmpo's demands and beat the Miami Heat to the signing of Damian Lillard, after agreeing a three-team trade on Wednesday.
In a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns, Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee's 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030 will head to Portland. To complete the trade, the Suns will receive Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
Lillard handed in a formal trade request in July and was heavily linked with the Heat after admitting they were his preferred location. However, months went by without a trade and now the Bucks have acted after Giannis put pressure on the franchise.
Giannis is one of the best players in the NBA, and the two-time MVP led the Bucks to a historic championship win in 2021. But he sent a message to the front office to say he wasn't happy with just one title, and hinted that he could look to leave if they didn't share the same ambition to win more titles.
The Bucks will now have one of the best rosters in the Eastern Conference on paper, and they're now potentially the best across the NBA. But the major trade also sends a statement to Giannis, who hinted just two weeks ago he could leave.
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"At the end of the day, I am a winner," Antetokounmpo said on the 48 minutes podcast. "I want to be a winner. Contracts, fame, status, comfort zone does not matter to me. I don't want to be stuck in this lifetime to keep on talking about the same story: 'Oh, we went to Game 6 in the NBA Finals, we won. We were down 2-0, we came back, we won four games.' I'm tired of hearing the same story over and over again.
"I feel like people get stuck on that -- which is unbelievable, it's great, I know people are excited, I know that we hadn't won a championship for 50 years -- but at the end of the day, I want to create new memories. I want to win another championship."
Giannis put pressure on the front office this offseason as he's keen to win another championship (2023 Getty Images)Giannis went on to speak about how much he's given to the Bucks over the course of his career, but doesn't want anyone taking their foot off the gas in the future. "As long as we are in for a championship, as long as nobody's comfortable, as long as everybody's sacrificing the same amount of time and sweat and blood that I've sacrificed for this city to win a championship, we are all good," Giannis added.
"As you guys have seen, every year I try to get better. Better every year. Every year, that's the approach I have for the game and that's the approach I have for life. I don't want to be comfortable. I want us to win another championship.
"I can see myself being with the Milwaukee Bucks for the rest of my career. But the moment I feel like people are not as committed as I am to get that golden thing in the back, I am not. It's more than the money. For me, it's all about that [trophy]. And I want that.
Lillard requested a trade back in July and now has his wish, although it's not to the Heat (2023 Amanda Loman)"So as I said, if the Milwaukee Bucks are on the same page for the rest of my career, great. If not, I have to win. I have to win. And I think the city and people will understand it. Because I'm one of the most competitive guys, and I've given everything that I can for the city of Milwaukee."
Giannis now has his wish and the Bucks will be one of the favourites to win the NBA championship in 2023-24. Lillard shares Giannis' passion for winning, something he couldn't manage in Portland which caused him to seek a trade before the start of the new season.
Lillard was even picked by Giannis first in the NBA All-Star Draft, ahead of now former team-mate Holliday. Giannis clearly rates Lillard highly, and now they're on the same roster.
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