September 27, 2023.
It was a day that many felt would live in infamy for Portland Trail Blazers fans for years to come.
That was the day Portland traded all-star point guard Damian Lillard in a blockbuster deal that immediately left NBA fans wondering what the fallout would be.
Less than two years later, and it seems a winner has been called.
And it's the Trail Blazers... by a huge margin.
Here's a look at the moving pieces of the trade, which was a three-team deal:
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee's 2029 first-round draft pick, first-round pick-swap rights from Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030
Phoenix Suns receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nasir Little, Keon Johnson
At the time, the trade was viewed as a move that would launch the Bucks into a perennial title contender, while the "loaded" Suns would bolster both their frontcourt and their bench rotation with Nurkic, Allen, Little and Johnson.
It didn't work out that way.
During Lillard's two seasons in Milwaukee, the Bucks failed to make it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs, culminating in this year's 4-1 exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.
Of course, this season's potential run was stopped short before it even began, as Lillard suffered a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the series, all-but-ending the Bucks' chances of advancing.
This offseason, the Bucks elected to release Lillard, meaning the remaining $113 million of his contract will be paid out over an extended period.
That move has fueled the speculation that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could demand a trade out of Milwaukee, which would further sink the suddenly-reeling franchise.
Perhaps that won't actually occur any time soon, but it's a rumor that will be speculated about for the remainder of his time with the Bucks.
And NBA teams will surely be circling.
Phoenix experienced a similar disaster, as the pieces of its "super team" never truly came together.
The Suns were swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs two seasons ago and failed to make the playoffs this season.
On the surface, Portland didn't fare much better.
Holiday was quickly shipped to Boston for perennially-injured Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdan as well as picks.
Ayton, like Lillard, was bought out this offseason by Portland after an uneven two years in which the former No. 1 overall pick displayed flashes of brilliance with far-too-many prolonged stretches of poor play - and perhaps poor effort.
That's where the three-team deal of despair ends.
Because it's all upside from here for Portland.
The Blazers seemingly took a flier on 2023 second-round pick Toumani Camara as a throw-in piece in the deal with the Suns.
But the 6-foot-7, 230-pound wing has quickly blossomed into a cornerstone of the franchise, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team this season while averaging 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 stocks (blocks/steals) per game.
Then, of course, there's Milwaukee's picks.
Portland owns the Bucks' 2029 first-round pick outright and pick-swap rights to the Bucks' 2028 and 2030 first-rounders.
Given the speculation about Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise, those picks could emerge as three of the best assets that have changed hands in recent deals.
There's no way around it: This deal was an abject failure for both the Bucks and Suns.
And while Ayton and "Holiday-turned-Williams III" didn't deliver Portland its frontcourt of the future, Camara's emergence and the Blazers' ownership of Milwaukee's draft future are massive wins for the franchise.
It will forever sting Blazers fans that they had to part with Lillard, who may someday return to the franchise, but there's no question Joe Cronin registered a massive victory in the blockbuster trade.
More NBA News:
- Trail Blazers gave Damian Lillard a title chance by trading him, but Bucks tore it to pieces
- NBA insider reveals why Blazers released Deandre Ayton
- Bucks tied to Cole Anthony after releasing Damian Lillard
- Damian Lillard breaks silence on Giannis Antetokounmpo through this troll post