Grade the trade: Blazers deal Lillard to Bucks (updated with Holiday return)

Note: This piece originally ran just hours after the Damian Lillard trade was complete. It’s been updated to include the Jrue Holiday trade to the Boston Celtics.

The inevitable has finally happened: The Portland Trail Blazers made their Damian Lillard trade – shaking the NBA world to its core in the process – sending one of the best players in franchise history to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal that includes the Phoenix Suns.

There were whispers over the past few days about the Bucks holding talks with Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin, but Milwaukee’s assumed lack of assets created just a general shrug from most people. Of course they checked in, but there wasn’t really a chance the Bucks had enough to land Lillard.

Now here we are, with Dame heading to the Cream City to chase his elusive championship next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns combine on Lillard trade

Unlike Milwaukee, it seemed like there was some legitimate truth to rumors that the Phoenix Suns could be the third team in a potential Lillard trade.

As it turns out, that was perhaps the case all along. Maybe Cronin was just waiting for the big, final domino to fall, which happened to be the Bucks making what he felt was the right offer.

But was it the right offer? What grade does the Blazers’ return package deserve?