It might not have unfolded the way anyone expected, but the Portland Trail Blazers ended up landing the steal of the offseason, and oddly enough, they have Giannis Antetokounmpo to thank for it. When the two-time MVP began applying pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks to remain in title contention, it reignited a wave of urgency inside that front office, and that domino effect ultimately made Damian Lillard available again, giving the Blazers the opportunity of a lifetime.
Lillard's departure from Portland never truly felt like a clean break. The franchise icon may have relocated East less than two years ago, but the emotional and cultural ties were never fully severed.