Damian Lillard leaves notable player off of his dream starting five

The back-to-back three-point contest champion requested a trade from the Trail Blazers during the offseason and eventually ended up in Milwaukee after expressing a desire to play in Miami.

For those who thought playing alongside Antetokounmpo, one of the league's best players, would make Lillard happy to be with the Bucks, his comment might lead to second-guessing.

It's also a different tune than the one Lillard sang in May 2022 when asked on social media to name a player he'd pick to help him get back into the playoffs.

The Bucks (35-21, third in Eastern Conference) fired head coach Adrian Griffin 43 games into the season and are 3-7 under Doc Rivers, who was hired on Jan. 26.

Lillard signed a contract extension with the Trail Blazers during the 2022 offseason that includes a player option in 2026-27. The Bucks aren't in danger of him walking in free agency anytime soon, but if his partnership with Antetokounmpo fails to produce meaningful rewards, the front office may have to consider a trade, perhaps to somewhere Lillard can play with a member of his starting five.