Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (ankle) won't play on Tuesday evening in Phoenix. Lillard is dealing with a left ankle sprain. He was listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's meeting with Utah but ended up playing. However, the 33-year-old struggled, scoring 12 points and shooting 5-for-18 from the field and 1-for-8 from deep. Hopefully, a night off will do the former Trail Blazer some good and enable him to get back on the floor for Thursday's showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But in the meantime, Cameron Payne, averaging 10.5 points in two starts this year, will likely take over for Lillard in the lineup. Of course, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton active, both men should handle most of the work on the scoring end.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The superstar guard was also tagged as questionable before Sunday's game. He ended up suiting up for that game and played 38 minutes in the loss. If he sits, Cameron Payne figures to be the obvious choice to move into the starting five. Payne would be worth a look as a streaming option if given an extended role.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (ankle) will play against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The superstar guard was listed as questionable coming into this game. Despite that, Lillard will suit up for the second night of this back-to-back set. He'll start alongside Malik Beasley, Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis on Sunday. Lillard could be asked to do a little more on offense with Khris Middleton (rest) sitting out.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin told reporters that Damian Lillard (personal) practiced on Wednesday. "Dame was back, in good spirits and able to practice. He'll be available", Griffin said in reference to Lillard's availability for Thursday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. Lillard was absent from Monday's home loss to the Utah Jazz for personal reasons, but he is back with the team and will keep his absence to a one-game minimum. The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star's numbers have taken a predictable dip around plenty of stars during his first year in Milwaukee, but he is still returning second-round fantasy value while putting up 25.1 points, 6.9 assists, 3.0 three-pointers, and 1.1 steals per game with 91.6% free-throw shooting. Return Lillard to all season-long lineups for Thursday's battle between two Eastern Conference juggernauts.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (personal) has been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Utah Jazz for personal reasons. It's unclear what the "personal reasons" are that will keep Lillard out of the game, but it seems like this should be a short absence if it ends up being more than one game. This will only be Lillard's third missed game of the season and his first one since November 11. So far this season, the superstar point guard is still getting accustomed to playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks which can be seen by his lower field goal percentage and scoring numbers. In this contest, however, since Cameron Payne is already ruled out as well, Pat Connaughton and Andre Jackson Jr. will see some more minutes while Khris Middleton will likely see heavy minutes.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (oblique) is considered probable for Wednesday's big matchup against Boston. Lillard is dealing with an oblique strain, but he's played in five consecutive contests and appears ready to go on Wednesday. The star point guard has had a bumpy ride in Milwaukee, but he's finally found some consistency in the most recent games, posting two double-doubles in four outings and averaging 28.3 points and 9.3 assists during the stretch. With Jrue Holiday coming up against him, this won't be an easy matchup for Lillard, but he should relish the opportunity to prove that the Bucks did the right thing by moving Holiday on and bringing him in.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard was a bad man against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, posting a big double-double with 37 points and 13 assists. He shot 9-for-18 from the field with a 4-for-10 record from deep and did a great job getting to the free-throw line, hitting 15-for-16 at the charity stripe. In 31 minutes of action, Lillard also contributed two steals. The seven-time All-Star has been fairly inconsistent with his work in 2023-24, but he had all the keys to the offense on Wednesday with Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) missing the game, and the Raptors didn't know what to do with Lillard. Friday's meeting with the Hornets, who are ranked 30th in defensive efficiency, promises another big line for Lillard. Although it's the start of a back-to-back, and Lillard has just returned from injury, meaning he might not be used fully.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (calf) has missed the team's last two games due to what the team is calling right-calf injury management, but head coach Adrian Griffin said Lillard is expected to return on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. The superstar guard has put up some big scoring numbers since joining the team, but his efficiency hasn't been anything to write home about yet. The Bucks will look to end a two-game losing streak, while Cameron Payne will move back to the bench. Pat Connaughton and Malik Beasley will probably take a hit in terms of fantasy value with Lillard's return as well.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (calf) is expected to return for Monday's game against the Bulls. The former Blazer missed the last two games because of a calf strain, allowing Cameron Payne to enter the starting lineup. It's hard to say if Lillard will see a cap on his minutes, assuming he gets the green light. However, he'll at least be on the floor enough to force Payne to lose his streaming value.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (calf) won't play on Saturday night in Orlando. The former Blazers' lingering calf soreness kept him out of the lineup for Thursday's loss to the Indiana Pacers, opening the door for Cameron Payne to enter the starting lineup. Payne finished with seven points, five assists, four boards, and a block in 30 minutes, so he could prove helpful for those needing a streaming option. Of course, without Dame on the floor, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 54 points versus Indiana, could continue to see a significant uptick in production.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (calf) may miss Saturday's game in Orlando. The 33-year-old didn't play in Thursday's loss to the Indiana Pacers because of a calf strain. As a result, Cameron Payne entered the starting lineup, finishing with seven points, five assists, four boards, and one block. If Lillard sits again, Payne is worth streaming in 12-team leagues and up. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 54 points on Thursday night, and Khris Middleton would remain the top producers offensively.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard introduced himself to the home fans in exciting fashion after leading the team to an opening night win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He delivered the dagger that ultimately won the game while collecting 39 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. He shot 9-for-20 from the floor while knocking down four triples and making all 17 of his free throw attempts. Lillard's late-game heroics are exactly why the Bucks made this trade and he made them look like geniuses when he delivered yet again. He looks primed to take over a top fantasy spot.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard made his first appearance for the team on Sunday, producing 14 points in 22 minutes in a 108-97 victory over the Lakers. With Giannis Antetokounmpo also in the lineup, we got the first glimpse of how Milwaukee's new-look offense will work in 2023-24. The Greek Freak was very happy with his new partner in crime. "I've never been this open," Antetokounmpo said after the game. "And first of all, I've never seen anybody being double-teamed from the first possession of the game." The new star duo left a great impression, but there's certainly room for improvement in Lillard's game after he finished with 3-for-10 shooting. Seven of his attempts came from deep, and he made two of them. Lillard also had two rebounds, three assists, and four steals during his maiden Bucks appearance.

Well, it finally happened. For the first time in 11 years, Damian Lillard is no longer a Trailblazer.On Wednesday, the nearly three-month saga that held NBA news hostage all summer came to an abrupt halt after Lillard was astonishingly acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a blockbuster three-team deal that included the Phoenix Suns, nine total players, one first-round pick, and one pick swap.Here is the full breakdown of the trade and my analysis of how it will affect the NBA in 2023-2024 and fantasy basketball. 

The Trade

The Bucks receive - Damian LillardThe Blazers receive - Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Bucks' 2029 first-round pick, Bucks' pick swapThe Suns receive - Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, ... [More]

The Milwaukee Bucks are trading for Portland Trail Blazers superstar guard Damian Lillard. It's a massive three-team deal that most notably sees the Bucks send Jrue Holiday, an unprotected first-round pick, and unprotected pick swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Portland. Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson head to the Phoenix Suns as part of the swap. At long last, Lillard's trade request has been fulfilled. Even though he didn't land at his preferred Miami Heat destination, Lillard ends up with another Eastern Conference contender nonetheless. The seven-time All-Star will help form one of the league's most dynamic duos alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. Lillard's overall counting stats could take a slight hit surrounded by more talent than he was with the Blazers, but a potential rise in efficiency should support his top-12 upside in category leagues for upcoming fantasy drafts.

Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald hears from a source that the Miami Heat potentially trading for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is becoming "unlikely" with both sides at an impasse in this regard for months now. Portland obviously desires multiple first-round picks and perhaps several of Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Caleb Martin, but Miami won't seem to budge on what they're willing to offer. It looks like the two sides haven't been more far apart on striking a deal than they are right now with other teams now swooping in on the Lillard sweepstakes. Continue drafting the seven-time All-Star around the Round 1/2 turn in fantasy while this long-drawn-out saga desperately searches for its climax.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo, the Bulls and Raptors have had discussions with the Blazers regarding guard Damian Lillard. After the All-Star requested a trade in July, specifically to Miami, updates cooled off over the last few weeks. However, with training camp on the horizon, teams have emerged as potential suitors. The 33-year-old has spent his entire career in Portland, averaging 25.2 points, including a career-high 32.2 points in 2022-23. Of course, any deal with the Raptors will likely involve Pascal Siakam. On the other hand, the Bulls have young, up-and-coming players on the roster, which would dramatically alter Portland's championship window. But no matter where Lillard lands, assuming he's traded, he's expected to remain a top-10 fantasy option in all formats.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is back in trade talks as the team has been receiving calls on his availability in a potential Damian Lillard deal. Jusuf Nurkic has been floated in trade rumors ever since Lillard requested a trade a few months ago. The Trail Blazers haven't found any teams to make a deal work with the Miami Heat since they weren't liking any of their offers. Now, Ayton could possibly be in the mix with Nurkic maybe on his way to Phoenix. Philadelphia, Toronto, and Chicago have all been active in trade talks and Ayton could be the missing piece that ties everything together in a neat bow. If Ayton does move on from Phoenix, his value could increase depending on the situation.

The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to move Damian Lillard sooner rather than later. More specifically, the team hopes to have a deal done surrounding the All-Star guard before training camp begins on October 2. It's been over two months since Lillard requested to be traded, with Miami being his preferred destination. However, after reports surfaced that the Blazers weren't interested in anything the Heat offered, discussions stalled. But now it appears there's a good chance Lillard is dealt sometime soon, although he may not end up in South Beach. That said, he should remain at least a top-10 fantasy option, no matter where he ends up.

According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears, the Trail Blazers have talked with "several teams" regarding a trade surrounding All-Star guard Damian Lillard. The veteran expressed his desire to play in Miami for the last few months. However, since a deal with the Heat doesn't look promising, Lillard recently indicated he would report to training camp for any team, including Portland. Interestingly enough, Spears stopped short of naming "another Eastern Conference" franchise that could emerge for Lillard's services. But for now, not much has changed, although updates should intensify with the start of the season right around the corner.