May 21, 2024

Jimmy Butler, CJ McCollum, Magic Johnson, other NBA stars react to Damian Lillard trade

Jimmy Butler, CJ McCollum, Magic Johnson, other NBA stars react to Damian Lillard trade
Art by Royce Nicdao

Did the Milwaukee Bucks just use their confidential funds to pull off the under-the-radar trade?

The Bucks completed a massive deal on Wednesday after acquiring superstar Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team agreement also involving the Phoenix Suns.

As it should, the NBA world went absolutely [insert proper emoji here]. Even a bunch of NBA players couldn't help but make their feelings known while probably pondering how to defend the three-headed monster of Lillard, Giannis "The Greek Dream" Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton. Somewhere out there, Brook Lopez is asking in his booming baritone: "Hey, how about me?"

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler posted a video and alleged that the Bucks were guilty of tampering. We're not entirely sure if he's kidding or if he's snitching. We're betting on the former. To recall, Lillard was clear about wanting to join the Heat

 Butler's teammate Tyler Herro, who was part of the rumored trade package for Dame, added more, um, heat.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Patrick Beverley, who has never made an opinion he didn't like, gave an accurate take.

Even those who were part of the huge trade hopped on X to talk about what went down. Former Trail Blazers center Jusuk Nurkic, who was shipped to the Suns, posted the perfect meme. But he also sent love to Rip City.

His new teammate Grayson Allen, who the Bucks included in the trade package, also took the humor route and mocked himself with his recent post. 

New Orleans Pelicans star CJ McCollum, Lillard's former sidekick, loved what the Suns got though.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart only needed three words.

Free agent guard Cameron Payne, who last played for the Suns, needed zero words.

Former NBA players Paul Pierce, Evan Turner, and Brandon Jennings also chimed in.

Of course, we couldn't have an NBA world reaction article without Twitter great Magic Johnson, whose tweets could always put ChatGPT out of business.

May internet din kami, Magic!