Rumor: Bucks Could Have Traded Damian Lillard This Offseason Had He Not Gotten Hurt

August 5, 2025

Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA — Amanda Loman/Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks could have traded Damian Lillard this offseason had he not gotten hurt, according to NBA insider Jamal Collier of ESPN.

The Bucks waived and stretched Lillard, who will miss next season recovering from his left Achilles tendon tear.

“The Bucks’ offseason could have taken different paths had Damian Lillard stayed healthy — from tinkering around the margins of the roster to add a new starting center to complement a growing relationship between Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo or potentially trading Lillard,” Collier wrote. “That was a last-ditch strategy, a source told ESPN, the team could have explored in effort to find another star to pair with Antetokounmpo.”

Lillard averaged 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Bucks in 131 games in the regular season. Milwaukee waived and stretched Lillard, who was slated to make $113 million over the next two seasons with the franchise. That amount will be stretched over the next five seasons.

A future Hall of Famer, Lillard will make $70 million next season from the Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers. The veteran point guard, who holds 17 Portland franchise records, gets to be around his children while he rehabs his left leg injury.

“It’s obviously a tough injury, but I know how I’m going to approach the whole rehab process, taking my time,” Lillard said in July. “I think I’m going to return to form.”

Lillard played in 58 games for the Bucks last season. He averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 92.1% from the free-throw line.

A top 75 player of all time, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists with the Trail Blazers and Bucks. He’s fourth in NBA history in 3-point field goals.

Lillard has made nine All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. He won the 2012-13 Rookie of the Year Award with the Trail Blazers.