By R.L. Bynum
The long-awaiting Portland Trail Blazers trade of Damian Lillard has finally happened as part of a reported three-team megadeal that will send former North Carolina forward Nassir Little to the Phoenix Suns.
The Bucks won the sweepstakes to get Lillard, who requested a trade on the second day of 2023 free agency and will now play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Multiple outlets have reported the deal.
Little, who Portland drafted in the first round as the 25th overall pick in the 2019 draft, is going to the Suns along with Jursef Nurkic, Leon Johnson and former Duke star Grayson Allen. The Blazers get Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee’s 2029 first-round pick and a Bucks pick swap.
In four seasons with the Blazers, Little averaged 6.0 points and 17.1 minutes per game while shooting 45.1% from the floor and 33.5% from 3-point range.
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Little, who scored a career-high 30 points at Milwaukee on Feb. 1, 2021, had surgery in April to repair a right-side core muscle injury. Injuries have plagued Little, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder that forced him to miss the second half of the 2021–22 season.
Last October, Little signed a four-year, $28 million contract extension.
During Little’s one season at UNC in 2018–19, he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 38 games. His career-high was 23 points on Jan. 21, 2019, in a 103–82 home win over Virginia Tech.
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