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Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. He's expected to miss a large portion of next season.
The Bucks acquired Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. Lillard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in a Milwaukee uniform, but the team has lost to the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row.
Lillard will make $54.1 million next season. He has a player option worth $58.5 million for the 2026-27 season. While Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have a strong relationship, according to Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Lillard could have been traded this summer if the Achilles injury hadn't happened.
"Had Lillard remained healthy, and had the Bucks still fallen in the first round, league sources say there would have been discussions about whether Lillard wanted to remain in Milwaukee," Nehm and Amick wrote. "The relationship between Antetokounmpo and Lillard is strong, as is the respect level, but the imperfections of their on-court pairing remained in their second season together.
"And with the group’s collective limitations growing more evident by the month, a conversation was looming about whether Lillard and the Bucks might be better off parting ways."
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball.© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Lillard wanted to get traded to the Miami Heat when he requested a trade from the Blazers in 2023. However, Portland and Miami couldn't agree to a deal.
A future Hall of Famer, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. The Oakland native has made nine All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. He won the 2012-13 Rookie of the Year Award with the Blazers.
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The Bucks acquired Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. Lillard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in a Milwaukee uniform, but the team has lost to the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row.
Lillard will make $54.1 million next season. He has a player option worth $58.5 million for the 2026-27 season. While Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have a strong relationship, according to Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Lillard could have been traded this summer if the Achilles injury hadn't happened.
"Had Lillard remained healthy, and had the Bucks still fallen in the first round, league sources say there would have been discussions about whether Lillard wanted to remain in Milwaukee," Nehm and Amick wrote. "The relationship between Antetokounmpo and Lillard is strong, as is the respect level, but the imperfections of their on-court pairing remained in their second season together.
"And with the group’s collective limitations growing more evident by the month, a conversation was looming about whether Lillard and the Bucks might be better off parting ways."
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball.© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Lillard wanted to get traded to the Miami Heat when he requested a trade from the Blazers in 2023. However, Portland and Miami couldn't agree to a deal.
A future Hall of Famer, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. The Oakland native has made nine All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. He won the 2012-13 Rookie of the Year Award with the Blazers.
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