Seven-time NBA all-star Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks last week, as part of a three-team blockbuster deal.
And yes, the Raptors were hopeful the former Blazers guard would be calling Toronto home, and they worked hard to that end.
Just how close did they get to acquiring Lillard?
“Obviously you’d have to ask [the Blazers] — we were very aggressive,” Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster told Sportsnet’s Danielle Michaud, in a sit-down interview. “I’d say probably the biggest offer we’ve ever made for a player, but it’s up to them to accept it and so I think that’s, you know, you kind of never know what tilted a deal towards you or not. But maybe time will tell, we’ll find out.”
Webster also addressed reports that Toronto’s front office might be tough to negotiate with.
“I mean I think that’s our job, right, we’re always trying to get the best deal for our players, for the organization, to build for the future,” Webster said. “It’s interesting that that’s said, but it doesn’t really affect us.”