1 positive, 1 negative of Damian Lillard-Bucks trade for Indiana Pacers

Damian Lillard has finally been traded after months of speculation. However, it was not to the Miami Heat. Instead, Lillard has found himself in the Indiana Pacers’ own Central Division, landing with the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade that also involves the Phoenix Suns.

As predicted, the reactions to the Lillard trade varied, ranging from happiness and optimism from Bucks fans to despair and dread from Portland Trail Blazers and Heat fans, the latter of whom were certain they were getting Lillard.

And on top of that, general NBA fans were simply intrigued by how dominant a Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo duo could look in Milwaukee.

The fans weren’t the only ones getting into the drama, however, as Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro chimed in, too, seemingly accusing the Bucks of tampering in order to get Lillard and calling for an investigation from the NBA.

Besides all that, though, this does mean that Indy’s division rival just got a lot stronger, and some other trade targets have also freed up.

In addition to Lillard joining the Bucks, a lot of other players moved around in the trade.

The Suns sent Deandre Ayton to the Trail Blazers, who also got back All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday, and former-Suns rookie Toumani Camara in the deal. Meanwhile, the Suns received Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and ex-Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic.

That said, the obvious star of the trade was Lillard, who will now get to square off against the Pacers a lot more during the upcoming season. A duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo is bound to cause problems for every team in the East, and the Pacers will be subject to it more than anyone else.

Let’s take a look at exactly what the move means for the Pacers.