Grade the trade: Bucks land Damian Lillard in shocking proposal
By Tyler Watts
What do the Milwaukee Bucks offer for Damian Lillard?
The Suns have rumored interest in being the third team in the Lillard sweepstakes. Their goal is to dump Deandre Ayton and further upgrade their roster around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
Gerald Bourguet of PHNX dropped the latest proposal, which fans can see below.
The trade as constructed by Bourguet does not work because the Suns are over the second tax apron. They cannot receive more money in a trade than they send out. In this deal, they take on Holiday’s $36.8 million salary and only part with $34.3 million.
If the trade can wait until October 9, they could send Josh Okogie to the Blazers to make the math work. The Suns could also dump $4.3 million in salary and duck below the second apron.
Assuming the Suns find a way to make it work, they are giving up Deandre Ayton and likely two rotation pieces to get Holiday. The All-Defensive candidate is a significant upgrade making this a definite yes from the Suns.
The Blazers would certainly want more for Damian Lillard. Jackson Jr. was the 36th pick in the 2023 draft and Ayton is a former number one pick. Let’s say the Bucks throw in their 2029 first-rounder to keep Portland happy, should Milwaukee make that deal?