It's championship-or-bust for Damian Lillard and Bucks

With all of the drama surrounding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially leaving Milwaukee, the Bucks had to swing for the fences, and they did, acquiring the best available player on the market.

Now the Bucks have the best player duo in the NBA by a significant margin. 

Antetokounmpo has never shared the court with a player of Lillard's caliber. Last season, the 32-year-old Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points and almost single-handedly kept Portland in playoff contention despite one of the league's weakest rosters.  

There hasn't been a duo like this featuring such dominant interior and perimeter players since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won titles with the Lakers in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Lillard and Antetokounmpo will have more space to operate than they've had in their careers and Bucks have the potential to be a historic scoring machine.

Holiday is a great defender — he was voted best in the league in The Athletic's anonymous player survey — but the potential for Lillard to transform the Bucks offense was too enticing to ignore. Also, with Lillard able to lessen the offensive load for Antetokounmpo, the former Defensive Player of the Year can take on more of a role defending on the perimeter if needed. 

Now the Eastern Conference is there for the taking for Milwaukee.
The Heat have an aging roster and lost key contributors and playoff heroes Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. The Celtics made a big move to acquire All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis, but there are injury concerns with him and point guard Malcolm Brogdon. The 76ers, meanwhile, are in a state of flux with James Harden likely on the way out. 

Lillard is an all-time great, a future Hall of Famer and one of the best players in the NBA. The Bucks were already fringe contenders before acquiring him. Now there should be no doubt: Milwaukee is the favorite to win the NBA title.