The Eastern Conference is Reimagined by Lillard and Holiday

Before the NBA Media Day, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks completed significant trades to address their backcourt needs. The acquisition saw the Milwaukee Bucks gain 7x All-Star Damian Lillard from Portland, while the Boston Celtics secured Jrue Holiday, a defensive specialist.

Damian Lillard had spent his entire career in Portland. The long-standing saga between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers concluded recently. Last July, 33-year-old Lillard expressed his desire to be traded from Portland, where he had been a mainstay for eleven seasons. During his tenure, Lillard led the Trail Blazers to eight playoff appearances but was unable to secure an NBA Championship. Despite several strong playoff runs, Portland only managed to reach the Western Conference Semifinals three times and made one appearance in the Western Conference Finals against Golden State.

Known for his loyalty to Portland, Lillard boasted a career average of 25.5 points, 1 steal, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. No. 0 holds several all-time records with the Trail Blazers, including Points (19,376), Offensive Win Shares (86.8), Three-Point Field Goals (2,387), Three-Point Field Goal Attempts (6,410), Free-Throw Attempts (4,946), Free-Throws (4,427), and Player Efficiency Rating (22.5).

Lillard’s time in Portland ended without an NBA Championship title, with the Trail Blazers finishing 33-49 and near the bottom of the Western Conference. Since head coach Chauncey Billips’s appointment, Portland has not made a playoff appearance. Despite Lillard’s repeated desire to play alongside other star players, the Trail Blazers elected to retain the third overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. With a crowded backcourt that included Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, the organization drafted guard Scoot Henderson from G-League Ignite, indicating that he is seen as Lillard’s successor.

Portland had the opportunity to improve and build a championship roster, having signed Jerami Grant to a $160 million, five-year contract. However, less than ten days after this signing, Lillard requested a trade. During his stint in Portland, Lillard became a consensus 7x NBA All-Star, won the 2012-2013 Rookie of the Year, and was honored as a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team. In the most recent season, the point guard achieved a career-high points per game average of 32.2.

Reports surfaced about Lillard’s preferred destination being the Miami Heat. However, Portland General Manager Joe Cronin was clear that Lillard would only be traded for the right package, which had to include a “star-level return.” Despite Lillard’s inclination, trade negotiations with the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks did not materialize. Additionally, Lillard’s agent’s attempts to steer several NBA teams toward his preferred landing place brought Lillard close to facing disciplinary action. According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, Miami was ready to make an offer in the summer, offering up to three first-round draft picks, along with Tyler Herro to a third team, and multiple second-rounders and swaps, along with expiring contracts and 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jović. However, the Blazers showed little interest in these negotiations, leading to a strained relationship between the two parties.

As the months passed, trade talks stagnated. At one point, Lillard considered returning to his hometown. Reports indicated that Joe Cronin had every intention of trading Dame [Lillard]. Despite the ambiguity surrounding these negotiations, Damian Lillard made it clear that his relationship with the Trail Blazers front office had been soured. Following his trade, No. 0 announced his move via his Twitter account, focusing on addressing the Blazers fans and the city of Portland, expressing his excitement for the next chapter with the Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the “secret” team to secure Lillard in the East, making a three-team trade that also involved the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers just days before the start of training camp. In this trade, Portland acquired Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara from the Suns, Jrue Holiday from the Bucks, and a 2029 first-round pick from Milwaukee while also securing two first-round pick swaps with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.

Phoenix received Grayson Allen from Milwaukee, along with Keon Johnson, Nassir Little, and Jusuf Nurkic from the Blazers. Lillard now joins Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the best players in the league, to pursue championship aspirations with the Bucks, the most recent NBA Champions in 2021. This transfer reshapes the landscape of the Eastern Conference by solidifying the Bucks as favorites to win the NBA title.

Damian Lillard’s arrival sparked a grand welcome from the Milwaukee community, with thousands of fans gathering outside the stadium for his welcome rally. Eye-catching “It’s Dame Time, Milwaukee!” billboards surfaced three days after the trade announcement, and Lillard, joined by his two children, made his first public appearance in a vibrant green sports outfit during the event. On Media Day, Lillard expressed his excitement about the trade and his newfound association with Milwaukee, portraying it as a fresh and welcoming experience for him and his family.

Lillard expressed his anticipation about teaming up with 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, forming one of the most formidable duos since the days of Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also emphasized his desire for winning, stating that his arrival at Milwaukee was propelled by a mutual goal to win, an opportunity that he is extremely thankful for. Lillard also appreciated the warmth shown by the Bucks towards his family and praised the familial environment he experienced from the outset. His sentiments about feeling wanted and comfortable highlight the positive impression of his entry into the Bucks organization.

Following this significant acquisition, the Milwaukee Bucks became immediate frontrunners to clinch the NBA title, signaling a power shift within the Eastern Conference. In a surprising turn of events, the Portland Trail Blazers subsequently traded Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, further levelling the playing field in the East. The Celtics acquired Holiday, sending Robert Williams III, Malcom Brogdon, and two future first-round picks to the Blazers, thereby enhancing their title prospects as well. Previously, Boston was viewed as the dominant force in the Eastern Conference, but these trades have redefined the landscape and positioned both the Bucks and Celtics as equally probable contenders for the championship.

Lillard’s arrival in Milwaukee has infused the Bucks with championship aspirations, elevating them into a superteam that is primed for success. His partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo offers the potential to be one of the most formidable pick-and-roll duos in the league. Expressing his excitement about playing alongside Giannis, Lillard revealed that he had never encountered such an opportunity before. Amidst the team’s notable talent, Lillard clearly understands his role and emphasized the importance of establishing chemistry alongside the existing hype. While acknowledging his consistent underdog status throughout his career, Lillard hinted at a sense of fulfillment and readiness, stressing the need to convert potential into achievements at this stage of his career.

Similarly, the addition of Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics bolsters their backcourt, injecting defensive intensity and exceptional playmaking skills. Described as an “assassin” by Jaylen Brown, Holiday’s defensive prowess and playmaking abilities are anticipated to elevate the Celtics’ championship aspirations significantly. Serving as a complementary force alongside the team’s standout players, Holiday joins a formidable roster that includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Derrick White. Concluding their Eastern Conference Finals disappointment from the previous season, the Celtics have made a substantial upgrade at the point guard position, fortifying their championship ambitions and creating a balanced rivalry with the Bucks. The acquisitions of Lillard and Holiday have redefined the Eastern Conference landscape, presenting both Milwaukee and Boston as equally potent forces vying for the ultimate prize.

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NBA News and Highlights
LeBron James Hits Another Milestone, Leads the NBA In Minutes
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James makes history again despite suffering the worst loss of his career against the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron James Now Leads the Most Minutes in NBA History
LeBron James may be the oldest player in the NBA, yet he still remains one of the finest. A generational talent, James set another milestone in one of the worst losses of his career. On Monday night, the Lakers conceded to the 76ers, 138-94, a 44-point deficit, making it the fifth worse loss in Lakers history.
Now in his 21st season in the league, James is still making moves along the history books amongst the greatest athletes to ever play the game. This time, James now leads the NBA in minutes played (Including the playoffs).
There are a few aspects we do know, LeBron James has played a lot of basketball, and it doesn’t look as though he’s slowing down anytime soon. He’s arguably the best player to ever play professional basketball, next to Michael Jordan. We’ll save that debate for a later time.
The Lakers got blown out by the 76ers
Monday was such a prime accomplishment for James, although it was such a strange scenario. In spite of witnessing greatness, Los Angeles got destroyed from the three-point line, and No. 24 finished with zero rebounds. Averaging 7.5 rebounds per game this season, it’s the first time the 4x NBA Champion hasn’t grabbed a single board since Nov. 2010.
Overall, we can’t take away the eminence of LeBron James. Incredibly durable at his age, James remains of the strongest, most athletic players in the game. With James vs. father time, the forward leads the Lakers in scoring and assists, putting up 25.1 points and 6.5 dimes per game.
There are not many players who are putting up those calibers of numbers, next to Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. LeBron James currently ranks top 10 in points scored, and right outside the top 10 in minutes per game. That’s not bad for a player who’s been in the league right out of high school.
LeBron is the NBA All-Time Leader in Points Scored
Having four NBA rings of his own, James recently surpassed Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar with the most points scored in NBA history with 38,388. Now at 39,078 career points, James once against has soared past Abdul-Jabbar for the most minutes played in history (66,318).
With that record including the playoffs, at 38 years old, the Cleveland native already holds the records for most minutes played in the post-season with 11,654. Right behind him is Karl Malone, with over 62,000 minutes played, Dirk Nowitzki, and the late Kobe Bryant.
So much for Darvin Ham limiting James this season. Proving his value to this organization, as of November 25, the Lakers are +87 with LeBron on the court, including a 115.8 offensive, and 107.7 defensive rating.
Without James, Los Angeles has a -13.2 net rating. If that doesn’t speak volumes how important this man is to the Lakers and the game of basketball, I don’t know what does. Blessed with a fairly, healthy career, James is showing the meticulous athlete he is, putting up fascinating statistics.
James Is Only Focused On Winning
For James, he has a lot of mileage on the court. Even more impressive, No. 23 has as total of 16 years of postseason runs between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. Not an easy task, playing a high volume of playoff minutes would be tough mentally and physically for any player. Approaching 40 years old, James has a career postseason average of 41.3 minutes per game.
Sitting at 10-8 in the Western Conference, the Lakers found themselves down 32-19 in the first quarter and reached a deficit of 46 points. Scoring a team high 18 points on 8-12 field goal shooting, the King wasn’t thrilled about his personal accolades alongside the worst loss of his career. Previously, the Lakers were rocked by the Indiana Pacers 136-94 in 2019 and finished with a 37-45 overall record.
Last night, the Lakers allowed Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to combine for 61 points and 19 assists. Embiid finished the night with another triple double, in which Philadelphia finished with game high 11 steals. The Sixers finished 22-26 from the free-throw line, and 22-46 (47.8) percent from beyond the arc.
LeBron James Wasn’t Too Thrilled With the Milestone Following the Loss
“That don’t mean much to me,” James told the press inside the locker room. When asked about the blowout against Philadelphia, the future Hall of Famer stated “a lot” needs to change. A man of few words, the Lakers star wasn’t enthusiastic about the milestone.
Far less interested in the history books, 17 games into the season, James is dialed into what the Lakers need to change in order to win banner No. 18. As he continues to climb the stats book, James currently ranks fourth in all-time assists, behind John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and good friend Chris Paul.
Los Angeles is the 8th seed in the West, and sealed victories in four of the last six games. James and the Lakers will look to bounce back against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday evening.
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NBA News and Highlights
High-Scoring Pacers Host Struggling Blazers
Pacers vs Blazers
The Indiana Pacers boast the league’s top offense, but coach Rick Carlisle knows his squad needs to improve on the defensive end in order to make a lengthy postseason run.
The Pacers’ ongoing journey to become a complete squad continues on Monday when they face the visiting Portland Trail Blazers in Indianapolis.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton averages 25.4 points and 12.1 assists to lead Indiana, which is scoring a league-high 128.8 points per game.
Haliburton had 26 points and Myles Turner added 23 in the Pacers’ 136-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday. The win earned Indiana a quarterfinal home game in the NBA in-season tournament.
Turner is averaging 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Pacers, who have scored at least 130 points in seven of their first 15 games. Indiana’s high-scoring attack has been presenting new challenges for opposing coaches.
“We’re the highest-scoring team on the planet,” Carlisle said. “Teams are loading up, trying to figure out ways to slow us down.”
Next up is Portland, which has lost nine of its last 10 games. The Blazers led by as many as 26 early in the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday before losing 108-102.
“To be a good team, a really, really good team, contending team in this league, you’ve got to have composure,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “Our composure was good for the most part, but when it really, really counted, we came unraveled a little bit.”
Jerami Grant scored 22 points to lead the Blazers in the loss, while Malcolm Brogdon added 18 points and 12 assists. Shaedon Sharpe had 17 points and rookie guard Scoot Henderson chipped in a career-high 13 points.
Billups has been pleased by Henderson’s development over the past few games. He was 3-of-4 from 3-point range against Milwaukee after going 2-of-24 (8.3 percent) from beyond the arc to begin the season.
“I thought Scoot played good,” Billups said after Sunday’s contest. “I thought he was confident. Obviously, knocking down three 3s. Getting to the rack. I thought he did a good job. He had five fouls at the end. But I still want him to be aggressive on both sides of the floor. But I could see his confidence continuing to pick up.”
Portland continues its five-game road trip with a tough matchup against Indiana’s up-tempo attack.
In addition to proven scorers Haliburton and Turner, Pacers guard Buddy Hield has scored 73 points in his last three games while shooting 16-of-24 (66.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Indiana has also received a spark from shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, who is emerging as complete player in his second season. Mathurin scored 15 points in the win over Detroit on Friday and was a key part of the Pacers’ defensive effort in the fourth quarter.
“You look at Benn Mathurin, you’re looking at a guy that can be a really good two-way player in this league, can be a force on offense, which he is, and also a force on defense,” Carlisle said. “This is who he is. He’s a ferocious competitor that loves the moment. Being a big part of this is really cool.”
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NBA News and Highlights
James Harden Has Been Traded to the LA Clippers
The James Harden saga has officially come to an end in Philadelphia. In the middle of the night on Monday, Harden was shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers for Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, and a pick swap.
In return, the Sixers sent veteran P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers. A three-team trade, the Clippers sent a 2027 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick. As a result, Philadelphia has waived journeyman Danny Green.
- Clippers Get: James Harden, P.J. Tucker, Filip Petrusev
- 76ers Get: Nic Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, KJ Martin, 1st Round Pick (Thunder), Two 2nd Round Picks (Clippers), 2028 1st Round Pick (Clippers)
Harden Joins His Fourth Team in Two Years
This isn’t James Harden’s first rodeo when it comes to trade requests. After spending his first three seasons with Oklahoma City, Harden was traded to Houston back in 2012 after failing to reach a contract extension with the team. From there, the guard spent nine seasons in Houston before requesting a trade-out.
In 2021, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and formed a ‘Big 3’ with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Just a year later, Harden has sought another trade out of Brooklyn. This time, his request was to be traded to Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia 76ers.
His main reason? He wanted to reunite with Daryl Morey, who was the General Manager of the Houston Rockets during his tenure there. Morey, now the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers found himself in a tumultuous relationship with the Sixers guard.
This past summer, Harden called Morey a “liar,” and the relationship was unrepairable. At one point Harden stated, “I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” Months after requesting a trade to the Clippers, Harden is now reunited with Russell Westbrook from their Oklahoma City days.
In his 16th career season, James Harden has 14 career playoff appearances, in which he’s never made it to the NBA Finals. He now joins a talented Clippers group, which now consists of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Ivica Zubac, and P.J. Tucker among others. In his NBA tenure, the guard has a career average of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals. He joins a Clipper franchise that’s never won an NBA title, although the optimism is at an all-time high.
The Clippers are Legitimate Contenders
After losing in the Western Conference Semifinals five times since 2006, Los Angeles now pose a real threat in the West. With a healthy Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are 2-1 on the season and have wins over Portland and San Antonio.
With a newfound hope, the Clippers big three have quite the accomplished resume. Although an older group, they have 29 combined All-Star appearances, one NBA Title (Leonard with the Raptors), and two MVP trophies.
Harden hasn’t played a single game for the Philadelphia 76ers this season and will earn just over $35 million for the 2023-2024 season. The Clippers now have several newly acquired players whose contracts will expire next season. With the core of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, this should open up opportunities for the Sixers to acquire another All-Star.
According to ESPN, these expiring contracts between Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, and KJ Martin could add up to $50-$60 million in cap space in the offseason.
It’s a Risk That Could Pay Off for Los Angeles
At 34 years old, Los Angeles will take on a tremendous risk with Harden as part of their championship run. Although the Clippers have trouble staying healthy, Harden still remains one of the best guards in the NBA. Without Harden, the Clippers are second in the league in offensive rating (120.5), and lead the league in three-point percentage (41.4 percent).
Top 5 defensively, Harden will join Westbrook in a familiar backcourt duo. With his deadly step-back three and health stability, it’s now or never for the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, James Harden is “ecstatic” to join the Clippers. In addition, there is a possibility he will be in attendance for Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic. Once a former MVP, the ball is in Harden’s court for one last dance.
According to Draft Kings, the Clippers are now the top five favored teams to win the NBA Title with +1200 odds.
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