data-mm-id=”_7p15nnjxp”>On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks shocked the NBA world by trading Jrue Holiday, a first-round pick, two pick swaps, and four additional players for Damian Lillard. It's been a foregone conclusion for months that Lillard would end up a member of the Miami Heat, to the extent his agent was making threats that Lillard wouldn't show up for work if traded anywhere else. That will now be put to the test. After years of telling everybody he loved the grind and wouldn't run from it, Lillard apparently had enough and wanted to go someplace with a guaranteed shot at a ring. He's not in Miami, but he's definitely part of a championship contender now suiting up alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The Lillard deal ultimately wound up a three-team trade, with the Portland Trail Blazers receiving Holiday and Deandre Ayton along with the Bucks' picks and the Phoenix Suns getting in on the action by taking Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Keon Johnson, and Nassir Little. It's a groundbreaking trade weeks before training camp. Legacies are on the line. This league! Let's dig into the winners and losers from the wild transaction. WinnersGiannis Antetokounmpo Giannis' media tour this summer during which he publicly put pressure on the Bucks' front office to keep the team in title contention suggested, among many other things, that he didn't totally believe the 2021 championship core was capable of making another run. Well, he got the change he was searching for. Holiday is one of the league's top defenders but Lillard is one of the league's top players, hard stop. Giannis has never played with someone as skilled offensively as Lillard and it could make a huge difference in terms of his efficiency. Who knows how this shakes out in regards to the superstar's future in Wisconsin, but he wanted reinforcements and got them. Damian LillardMaybe Lillard is in shambles right now as he imagines spending the next few years battling the Milwaukee winters instead of basking in the South Beach sun, but it seems like he got everything else he wanted! Lillard got out of Portland and while it was ugly it wasn't nearly as ugly as it could have gotten if things dragged into the regular season. He is now playing with arguably the best player in the world who boasts a championship resume and the sort of two-way dominance Lillard has never seen in a teammate. He is a winner, even if he didn't go to Miami. Portland Trail BlazersGM Joe Cronin stuck to his guns and got a significantly better deal than he would've if he adhered to Lillard's demands to only talk with the Heat. Landing Ayton to pair with their young core is a significantly better fit than Tyler Herro ever was and the Bucks' picks could end up quite valuable if this doesn't work out and Giannis leaves. But even if he doesn't and the picks are bad Portland got a 25-year-old center under contract for the next four years with a career double-double average. They can keep Holiday or flip him for more assets at the deadline. The trade they ended up making gave them more value and flexibility than anyone thought possible when this saga began, even if you don't buy Ayton as a long-term centerpiece. NBA Fans We can finally stop getting Damian Lillard trade demand updates. Rejoice! LosersMiami Heat Well, well, well. After months of hearing about how the Heat are dealing with the Blazers at their leisure because Lillard only wants to go to Miami, they got the rug yanked out from underneath them. We'd say we hate to see it… but we don't, really. Heat fans have been utterly insufferable about this for nearly two months and it feels damn good for the rest of us to see them speechless. In the basketball world they're now stuck running it back with last year's team minus Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, which is a problem. Maybe they can get into the running for Jrue Holiday! Jrue Holiday Speaking of, this poor guy did a big interview with Milwaukee media literally yesterday talking about how he wanted to retire with the Bucks. Sports are cold. His journey is not over yet as there is virtually no chance the Blazers want to hang onto him, so he could end up in a pretty good spot. But there are few spots better than playing alongside one of the league's three best players. At least he got that chip. Phoenix Suns The Suns are only kind of losers and ultimately moves like this don't matter a ton when you have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal all on the same roster. But swapping out Ayton for the shambling corpse of Jusuf Nurkic and three average to below-average bench players doesn't seem… great. It's probably the best deal they were going to get for Ayton but that is the problem. They were selling really low on the big man. Everyone knew they didn't like him and treated him like a devalued asset. It feels like they could've gotten more impactful pieces if they let him feast on the empty paint his three co-stars were going to provide.
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England striker Toney has been linked with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea in the January window.
The 27-year-old has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for Brentford and Frank insists Toney will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Composed finishing from
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)
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Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique has admitted his team’s start to the season has not been good enough as they prepare to host Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
PSG have won just two of their opening five league games and suffered their first defeat on Friday when they were beaten 3-2 at home by Nice, leaving the reigning champions three points behind leaders Monaco.
Having taken charge in the summer, Enrique admits he is still getting used to his new side so has no cause for concern about developments so far, and promised that improved performances and results will start to come.
Matchday 1. Expect fireworks |
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
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Lionel Messi begins his latest quest for international glory on Monday when Argentina start their Copa America campaign against Chile.
Twice a losing finalist in 2015 and 2016 each time to Chile the Albiceleste came third at the tournament two years ago after losing in the semi-finals to Brazil.
While they did at least defeat La Roja in that bronze-medal match, those two penalty shoot-out losses were tough to swallow for Messi, who has been unable to match his remarkable club success for his country.
Only Uruguay (15) have won this tournament more often than Argentina (14), but their last title came in 1993 and they have lost four consecutive finals, having also been beaten in 2004 and 2007.
300 Barcelona s Lionel Messi has scored in 300 different LaLiga …
With all eyes falling on the Spanish capital on Sunday night, Real Madrid and Atletico played out a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
Getting off to a flying start on home soil as one-time Manchester City starlet Brahim Diaz opened the scoring after 20 minutes, it appeared that Carlo Ancelotti’s side were sat in pole position to make a crucial statement in the title chase.
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…
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The game
As expected, Liverpool dominated the game completely and the numbers prove it; 71% possession, 24 shots compared to Southampton s four, 734 passes with 89% accuracy over 300 and 75% by the Saints, nine corners taken to one.
However, the actual scoreline is a bit closer to hitting the nail on the head in terms of reflecting things seen on the pitch. Ralph Hasenhuttle s side had excellent periods of their own, particularly in the final minutes of the game when they pushed the title c…
“While today is an extremely difficult day for me, it is also one filled with reflection and immense gratitude. Playing for and representing England has been the greatest honour.
“During my eight years as a Lioness, I’ve always pursued success and winning football matches, while playing and training with the highest standards of competition, passion and perseverance.
“It has been the greatest honour to represent my family, my team-mates and the entire country. I have a lot of incredible memories during my time with England that have been pivotal moments.
“Winning the EUROs and then reaching the World Cup Final changed a lot for me, not only as a footballer but as a person. I’m so fortunate that I’ve been able to share that with so many remarkable pe…
Arsenal fought back from three goals down to claim a 3-3 draw with West Ham in a thrilling London derby on Sunday.
David Moyes side had carved out a three-goal lead with just over half an hour gone as Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek capped off a blistering start.
But a Soucek own goal late in the first half swung momentum toward the Gunners, who set up a thrilling finish by forcing Craig Dawson to put through his own net with 30 minutes remaining.
And Alexandre Lacazette completed the comeback late on as he headed home from close range to steal a share of the points.
An exhausting encounter at London Stadium and it ends with the points being shared!
3-3 (FT)
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
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