Due to the Milwaukee Bucks’ desperation to win another championship, they traded gold in exchange for a diamond. Now, they are faced with the dilemma of whether to trade away the 33-year-old point guard.
The Milwaukee Bucks won their last NBA championship in 2021 with the “Greek Freak,” Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a notable point guard, Jrue Holiday. With a hunger for short-term results, they decided to trade their two-way player, Holiday, who is now in the NBA Finals, for Damian Lillard. In hopes for an outstanding performance from the Giannis-Dame duo, the Eastern Conference third seed’s experiment could plummet in the long run.
Should the Bucks trade Damian Lillard?
Why Should The Milwaukee Bucks Trade Dame?
Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks from the Portland Blazers before the 2023-2024 NBA season. There were rumors that Lillard wasn’t happy playing with the Bucks and that could mean a trade. However, the point guard debunked all sentiments by saying, “I saw somebody say Dame’s not happy in Milwaukee or something like that. And I know the truth. I love the situation that I’m in.”
On the other hand, Lillard’s performance on the court this 2023-24 regular season has been questionable, as his offensive prowess declined drastically. In the 2023-24 season, Lillard’s field goal percentage plummeted from 46.3% to 42.4%. Also, his offensive capabilities like 3-point percent, corner threes, and shot attempts were reduced while playing with the Bucks.
This decline could be due to a poor relationship between him and the two-time MVP or concerns about how Lillard’s age might affect his performance in the long run.
Giannis on the other hand had a great season despite being the Eastern Conference’s premier player. Giannis’ offensive performance would not have been as great if Lillard hadn’t supported the 2021 NBA champion. Also, when Damian Lillard joined the Bucks he elevated the team’s offensive performance from 12th in the 2022-23 season to 6th in the 2023-24 season. Thus, it’s evident that Lillard helped the team offensively, but how about his defensive skills?
Dame’s Flaw On The Court
Despite being one of the best offensive players in the league, Lillard didn’t contribute to the Milwaukee Bucks’ defensive play. In the 2022-23 season, the Bucks ranked fourth in defensive performance. But in the 2023-24 season, the Bucks ranked 19th overall in defensive play. This is where the loss of Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics is most glaring.
Jrue Holiday is an excellent two-way player, which means he is a playmaker who can do well both offensively and defensively. Thus, this is one of Lillard’s flaws. Dame is a better offensive player, but defensively, he is not better than Jrue Holiday. Even Lillard testifies that Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
With the Milwaukee Bucks struggling defensively, they might not emerge as championship contenders next season if the club is unable to fix this problem.
The Milwaukee Bucks Best Trading Piece
Due to his age and a possible decline in his prime performance, Damian Lillard is the best player to trade. This is because his trade could free up the Milwaukee Bucks cap size for better draft picks and younger talents.
During this offseason, NBA teams that are more intentional about rebuilding long-term like the Brooklyn Nets, target younger and talented basketball players. This allows teams to build a sustainable winning culture in the players and franchise. However, other teams are trying to build the next “Big Three” to compete fiercely to put themselves in position for the next NBA championship.
Thus, the Bucks should focus more on building around Giannis Antetokounmpo with younger talent. He will soon be 30 years old and trading Lillard would allow the team to use short-term tactics to compete for the NBA title like the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, and Golden State Warriors.
About the Author
Wisdom is an email and brand copywriter with two years of content writing experience. He started Cloud Kitchen Concept to help startups and business owners elevate their brands from good to great. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram to enjoy cooked meals for your business’s growth.
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