Bucks GM Says He ‘Won’t Apologize’ For Trading For Damian Lillard

Sourav Bose | 28/07/2024
Bucks GM Says He 'Won't Apologize' For Trading For Damian Lillard

No one raised a finger when the Milwaukee Bucks let go of Jrue Holiday to acquire Damian Lillard in September 2023. A year later, the tables turned drastically. After Holiday won the 2024 championship with the Boston Celtics, critics began questioning the motive behind the move. Amidst the displeasure, the Bucks General Manager, Jon Horst, stood his ground, refusing to apologize for this trade.

The 41-year-old recently detailed to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm about their business during the last offseason. He recalled completing the roster well before the opportunity to sign Lillard arose. But the latter’s sudden availability changed everything. Consequently, Horst became determined to bring Dame to Wisconsin, even at the cost of existing team chemistry. Reminiscing about this period, he mentioned,

“I don’t apologize for it… We had an offseason. We built a team, and then we had an incredible opportunity to acquire an NBA All-75th team and pair him with another NBA All-75th team, late in the offseason and we did it. And then we try to do the best that we can and put a team together following that”.

It’s hard to argue with this justification, especially considering the form of these players at the time. On the one hand, Lillard had just concluded his best-ever individual regular season, averaging 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. On the other hand, Holiday recorded an underwhelming offensive season, contributing to the Bucks’ first-round exit against the Miami Heat in the 2023 playoffs.

Dame’s inclusion was supposed to boost the team’s offensive prowess, but things didn’t go as planned. Instability and dubious decisions from the management prevented the team from establishing a clear playing identity. This ultimately cost the Bucks in this year’s postseason, leading to another first-round exit.

On the contrary, Holiday showed how stat line often didn’t justify his contributions on the floor. The Celtics, for instance, benefited immensely from his defensive efforts, as their roster had the personnel to make up for his offensive shortcomings. As a result, he was integral in their title run despite averaging merely 13.2 points per game in the playoffs.

This has raised questions over the trade, putting Lillard under pressure to live up to the expectations in the coming years.

Damian Lillard has aimed to redeem himself

During the Bucks head coach Doc Rivers’ appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast last month, he shared shocking details about Lillard’s physical condition from last year. He revealed that Dame admitted to being in the worst shape of his career during the previous offseason. Wanting a trade, the 34-year-old purposefully engaged in light training to avoid injuries.

Soon enough, this cost the player and the Bucks during the season. The 8x All-Star struggled to find his rhythm, resulting in a forgettable debut campaign in Wisconsin. However, Lillard appeared to have learned hard lessons from these struggles, as Rivers revealed,

“All summer now, he’s [telling me], ‘I’m working twice a day. He’s so proud that he’s in great shape right now already, which is amazing. I shared this with him last week, I said, ‘It’s amazing you’re doing two a day right now and the Celtics and Mavericks are still playing. It just tells you how long of a journey it is for you to win a championship”.

So, the best of Lillard in a Bucks jersey is yet to come. Can he help the franchise replicate its recent championship success of 2021? That’s the million-dollar question in the NBA right now.

Post Edited By: Bhavani Singh
Damian Lillard

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Sourav Bose

Sourav, a seasoned NBA journalist at the SportsRush, discovered his profound love for basketball through the brilliance of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors. With over 600 articles in his career, he has established himself as a dedicated and prolific writer in the field. Influenced by 'The Last Dance' documentary and the anime 'Slam Dunk,' Sourav's passion for basketball is marked by insightful observations and a comprehensive understanding of the sport's history. Beyond his role as a journalist, he delves into the strategic dimensions of sports management and explores literature in his spare time, reflecting a well-rounded approach to his craft. Sourav's journey is characterized by a commitment to unraveling the intricacies of basketball and sports in general, making him a reliable source for NBA enthusiasts and a seasoned observer of the sports landscape.

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